Jump to full article: Lincoln (NE) Journal Star, 2010-01-26
Intro: Implementation of Nebraska’s statewide smoking ban has gone amazingly well.
Residents and state officials should pat themselves on the back for the smoothness of this major transition in social policy and personal habit.
The calm is in marked contrast to the lengthy and fiery debate that accompanied the passage of the ban by the Legislature. Nebraska was just the 16th state to approve a statewide ban.
Since the ban on smoking in public buildings and private businesses went into effect on June 1, 2009, state officials received only 134 complaints of violations, according to The Associated Press. One third of those complaints came in the first month. The rate quickly slowed.
Most of the complaints were dealt with expeditiously. The only case in which state officials were forced to seek a court order occurred in Broken Bow. The case against Henry “Fred” Schumacher, owner of Sylvester’s Bar and Lounge, is still pending. He was fined a total of $500 on three counts.
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