Tobacco.org

Smoking ban dissent continues 

Six weeks into the state wide smoking ban and the effectiveness of the newly implemented law is yet to be determined. As the cold months of winter approach, questions of enforcement, public reaction and the displaced smokers that have taken up shop outside of bars have created a quagmire that have many wondering whether this law can work on a state-wide level. Others, both smokers and nonsmokers, have welcomed the ban, for health and personal reasons.

One of the more striking changes after Oct. 1 was the increase in groups smokers standing along Main Street. In the first few weeks after implementation, Polson Police Chief Doug Chase received complaints from town citizens about being harassed by smokers standing outside of bars.

"We've stepped up patrol because there have been complaints of disorderly conduct by unwanted or unappreciated comments, but it has settled down the last couple weeks," Chase said.

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