Jump to full article: Gary (IN) Post-Tribune, 2008-04-21
Author: Teresa Auch Post-Tribune staff writer
Intro: From the perspective of City Hall, the first year of the city's smoking ban went relatively smoothly.
Violations are few, eateries have mostly embraced the change and just eight eateries have decided they are foremost bars and won't serve food to anyone under 18.
Dave Hollenbeck, city attorney, said most restaurants caused no enforcement problems since the no-smoking ordinance went into effect.
"The vast majority of establishments almost immediately came into full compliance," he said. "We had very, very few exceptions." . . .
Several businesses opted to stop serving people under 18 and pay a $50 fee to continue to allow smoking. That's where the problems have occurred, Hollenbeck said.
He said a few restaurants decided to take on the status of the bar so their patrons could continue to smoke. However, they continued to seat patrons under age 18.
They have since stopped serving people under 18.
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