The Chicago Tribune reports today that there have been more than 8,000 smoking-related complaints filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) since Illinois went smoke-free on January 1, 2008. I thought I might find more detail on the IDPH website, but no such luck.
The Trib reported that there were 5,500 complaints to the IDPH in 2008 and about 2,600 this year.
I wonder if that means "only" complaints filed with IDPH and not any smoking citations issued locally. Woodstock alone could have accounted for 2,600 this year, if there were any police ticketing of smoking-law violators.
Has there been even one smoking-law (disregarding under-age smoking) ticket in Woodstock?
You can drive by about any public place, especially the bars in beautiful downtown Woodstock, Illinois, and count more than ten smokers in a day who are huddled around the entrance to a bar or store and creating a gray haze through which pedestrians must pass.
The bar on the corner of Church and Clay is a good spot for smokers. Right on the corner. Right at the front door. Smokers are visible from all directions.
This is not a problem that the bar owner should be expected to correct. It's a State law, and the smokers are outside on the public sidewalk.
Last week I walked on Main Street, across from the movie theater. You know, in front of Pirro's and D.C. Cobbs and other establishments. What a mess! Cigarette butts all over the place.
OK, so it's a State law. Does that mean it's the City's responsibility to put butt cans out for the smokers? Why should a business foot the cost? Maybe smokers ought to learn how to field-strip their cigarettes and put the filters in their pockets. Then just let the tobacco blow away.
Maybe there could be a creative art contest for the fanciest butt can in town? Last summer it was horses. Butt cans, anyone?
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8 comments:
GOD ... So tired of hearing people whine about smokers. You've made us criminals, what else do you want? Do you want us to hide under the bed every time we have a smoke?
OH MY GOD! People are OUTSIDE smoking! Quick, call out the National Guard!
When the smoking ban was first put in place, I remember smoking OUTSIDE on a sidewalk outside of Morgans (2.50 cheeseburger night!).
A snooty woman and her young daughter walked by, the young girl holding her nose and making a bratty little "ewwwww" face at me.
The mom had the balls to turn around, come back, and verbally assault me, accusing me of "setting a bad example" for her precious child. I told this woman that the bad example set is, confronting a stranger on the street over stupid shit like this, particularly when she has no clue what I'm capable of. I then blew smoke at her and wished her a lovely evening.
Forget smokers, let's make people in big SUVs, clutching their Starbucks and cell phones the criminals! Let's run them all off the road into a utility pole where they belong!
Thanks for your large amount of research but it is no longer for the police to enforce. It is a Health Department issue! Call 1800NO SMOKE next time you see a violation. Don't just whine about it on here. May I ask how many times you have called that number already?
Thanks (cough, cough) for your comment, Karen. (cough, cough)
It's not the smokers. It's the law. Smokers can smoke (cough, cough) where it's lawful. More than 15' from an entrance to a public place.
And it's about the litter. (cough, cough)
So, Frank, you are saying that the Woodstock Police cannot enforce a state law? Since when?
I'm pretty sure their oath of office is to uphold the laws of the State. It probably doesn't read "uphold the laws of the State of Illinois, except for smoking violations."
Maybe Woodstock should just adopt its own anti-smoking ordinance and chase violators into the Administrative Adjudication Court.
Gus, the police have a hard enough time catching criminals and risk their lives over "real" dangers to society. What next a law against public flatulence and belching...lets get real. I agree with you on the people cleaning up their own refuse after they are finishing committing the crime.(cough...cigar)
Frank (above) provided a toll-free number to report Illinois smoking violations that is not a working number.
Local law enforcement IS an enforcing agency for smoking violations.
The correct number for reporting Illinois smoking violations is (866) 973-4646, or you can file a complaint online at www.smoke-free.illinois.gov (or you can print a 3-page, non-fillable form at the same website if you really like mailing paper to Springfield).
If you file a report online, the McHenry County Board of Health gets a copy, so that its inspectors can watch for violations. I suspect they won't rush right out to catch anyone smoking at 10:00PM.
I'm in love with Karen12359. Doh.
At the rate we are going we are going to have more laws than criminals...I guess we will have to go on the honor system then. Handcuff yourself and walk into the police dept. with the butt still in your mouth....wonder if it still has to be giving off smoke to be technically allegedly guilty. When will the nonsense end?
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