The new anti-smoking State law is already being ignored in Woodstock - definitely by smokers - maybe by others.
A good example is the bar on the corner of Church and Clay Streets. Customers gather immediately outside the front door to smoke. When 4-5-6 customers are there, they block the sidewalk and they create a smoke "gauntlet" through which pedestrians must pass to use the sidewalk.
The State law is clear. Smokers must be at least 15 feet from the entrance to a business.
It is important for the City of Woodstock (through its government leadership and the police department) to take a firm stand right from the start (well, I guess we already missed that!). Probably warnings have already been given. The time for warnings has passed.
Now it's time for tickets. Ticket every smoker who is violating the new state law. Do you know how long it will take for violations to stop? Twenty-four hours. Maybe less.
The law is crystal clear. There is no "interpretation" needed. The rule is 15 feet. If the smoker is three feet from the door, he knows that he is not 15 feet away. Smokers in Illinois know the law, and they are thumbing their noses at it.
Will it be necessary to chalk or paint 15-foot arcs around each doorway on the Square?
It may be that certain people don't like the new law. If you don't like it, contact your legislators and get it changed.
Frankly, if a bar or restaurant wanted to go "all smoking", then that ought to be allowed. After all, smoking parlors are exempt. Why not exempt a bar or restaurant that chooses to be "all smoking"? Customers would know before ever setting foot inside that it is a smoking establishment. Non-smokers would have no right to complain about the smoke in a "smoking" establishment. They don't like the smoke? So leave!
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5 comments:
Wouldn't they be blocking the sidewalk even if they were fifteen feet away from the entrance?
I agree totally! I think they should have to be 15 feet away from the door. Who wants to walk through all that smoke to get into a place? Anyone who breaks the 15 feet law should get a ticket. It would take less then 24 hours. I agree with that too.
Love the blog!
Wouldn't it be fun to get 10-20 people together on the Square with 15' lengths of rope and chalk, and then chalk off a 15' radius around each door to a business establishment? Or even 2-4-6 people? Any volunteers?
To answer the question above, yes, smokers won't even be on the sidewalk in many areas. And let's hope they aren't standing out in the street - 15 feet from the door of a business!
Afraid to do it yourself?
Non smokers made smokers go outside. They have no right to complain about smoke outside. Hey, it makes as much sense as the rest of this drivel.
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