Your smoking habit is about to become very expensive at McHenry County College. Now we know why they shifted over from a campus security department to a Police Department and bought that high-speed Ford Interceptor.
On October 1 (that's Saturday), MCC goes smokeless. According to the Northwest Herald (good thing, too, since there is no notice prominently displayed on the MCC website), not even electronic cigarettes will be allowed.
What will it cost you to sneak a smoke? How about $50 for the first violation and $100 for the second? Can't kick the habit? Maybe getting socked up to $250 per smoke after that will empty your pockets of what was your money for smokes.
Here's what Big Sister says, "The only way to protect people who are choosing to live a healthy lifestyle and not smoke is to have a tobacco-free environment."
Now, I don't like second-hand smoke, whether it's inside or clouding up a doorway into a building. But I also don't like ripping off students, staff and faculty with $50-100-250 fines. Where's the court? On campus? Is the fine by administrative action? Will they refuse to graduate you, if you have an unpaid fine?
Read the new policy here: http://www.mchenry.edu/Policy/TobaccoFreeCampusProcedure.pdf MCC "strictly prohibits the use of all tobacco products on or in any College-owned property."
Does possession constitute "use"? You'd better find out, if you smoke. "In or on" means buildings, vehicles, parking lot, etc. If you are smoking in your car in the parking lot, ka-ching!!! $50.00 (or more). Is the "Ring Road" on College-owned property, or is it County or Crystal Lake (City) jurisdiction? Find out ahead of time.
Be sure to read the Definition.
And, if you see one of the cops smoking in one of the police cars (or his own vehicle), what can you do? Can you photograph him? You'd better not videotape him, or you'll find yourself face-down in the parking lot, while he writes you a ticket for eavesdropping.
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2 comments:
Gus I have the answers to some of your questions. Although it was NOT posted on the MCC websites, fliers were put up in the "smoking areas" of the building, so that the smokers could be informed. Also, although I'm not sure about what the fine is, if you do not pay your fine then no, you will NOT be allowed to graduate. You will not even be allowed to register for the next semester, until your fine is paid. There will be no smoking allowed in the building, outside of the building, or in the parking lot. Students will have to go off campus in order to smoke.
Although I'm not a fan of second hand smoke and would enjoy not walking through the smell of smoke as I walk in, I also am not a fan of fining students and then putting a halt to their education if they are unable to pay it. I do feel that students should be allowed to smoke in their car. If they want to stink up their vehicle, that's their own problem.
Because of the fine and strict non-smoking rules.... we're gonna have a lot of crabby people on our hands.
Danielle, thanks for your comment. I agree.
I suspect the faculty and staff will figure out how the smoke on campus, if they want to, and they'll dare the MCC cops to do something about it.
I agree with not having to run the smokers' gauntlet to enter a building.
Thanks again.
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