Ordinance @ MindSay

CHICAGO - The Chicago City Council committee passed an amended smoking ordinance Wednesday that will affect all public indoor places in the city.

 

The measure passed by a vote of 46-1.

 

It includes a compromise forces all indoor facilities and restaurants to be smoke-free by February 1. Restaurant-bars and taverns were given 2½ years to install an air filtration system that could maintain the same air quality indoors while patrons are smoking as the outdoor air quality surrounding the establishment, NBC5's Lisa Tutman reported.

 

Some alderman recognized that the compromise would not please everyone.

 

"If there's not enough technology in 2½ years, these places will be smoke-free as a matter of law," Alderman Burt Natarus said.

 

Ald. Brian Doherty (41st) said earlier in the day that he planned to vote against the proposal because it did not provide any protection for outlying areas of the city where residents could go to a bar or restaurant in a neighboring suburb where smoking is allowed.

 

Some groups who have vocally supported a smoke-free ban were not completely happy with the compromise, Tutman reported.

 

"We're pleased with the City Council is recognizing the dangers of second-hand smoke, but we're disappointed that for some classes of workers that it's going to take them up to 2½ years to be protected," said Joel Africk of the American Lung Association.

 

Bar owner John Barleycorn believes the compromise is reasonable.

 

"If they come to an agreement, give us three years, get this over with and move on with our life and maybe come up with some better technology and if we find out there's not a better technology, then we'll be a smoke-free city," Barleycorn said.

Tutman found mixed reaction to the compromise on the streets of downtown Chicago.

 

"Second-hand smokers are the ones suffering more than the people who actually smoke, so I think it's a great idea," Chicago resident Areli Arriz said.

 

"You'd think in the city of Chicago, that maybe the mayor or the people in office might concentrate on anti-terror, instead of non-smoking ordinances," said Andrew Morgan.

 

Private residences, except when used as a licensed childcare, adult care, or health care facility or as a home-based business open to the public, would be exempt from the ban. Private vehicles, retail tobacco stores, a maximum of 25 percent of the rooms at every hotel and motel, private clubs and lodges would also exempt.

 

Any individual who smokes in an area where smoking is banned by the ordinance would be subject to a maximum fine of $100. Anyone who owns, operates or manages a public place and fails to comply with the ban would be subject to a maximum fine of $100 for the first offense. The fine for the second offense within a year of the first offense would be $500 and $2,500 for each subsequent offense within one year of the first.

 

Also, on the third and subsequent offenses, a business owner would be subject to a 60-day suspension our outright revocation of his or her business licenses for the premises.