Group alleges too few signatures were collected prior to 2006 election
Jump to full article: Newark (OH) Advocate, 2009-11-14
Author: OHIO NEWS NETWORK
Intro: A group of bar owners is fired up over Ohio's 3-year-old smoking ban.
Bar owners and employees met in Grove City on Friday claiming there weren't enough signatures for the ban to appear on the ballot in 2006.
They also say 46 convicted felons were allowed to collect signatures for the petitions -- something not allowed under state law.
The ban prohibits smoking in most public places in Ohio, including bars and restaurants.
Members of the Buckeye Liquor Permit Holders Association want the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the claims. They want family-owned businesses and private clubs to be exempt from the ban.
The group also is threatening a class action lawsuit for the hundreds of bars they claim went out of business because of the ban.
"We're losing money in our businesses because this never should have gone to a vote and it went to a vote anyway," said Pam Parker of Parker's Tavern in Grove City.
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