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Smoking violations dropping steadily  

Warnings and fines for violations of the state smoking ban have steadily declined in Findlay and Hancock County, showing that businesses are complying or smokers are simply getting more savvy about not getting caught.

According to Craig Niese, a Findlay Health Department sanitarian, Findlay has received 161 complaints about smoking violations since the state ban started three years ago. The department has investigated 123 of those. So far, 18 warnings have been issued and 11 businesses have been fined.

Findlay warnings and fines in 2007, the year the law went into effect, totaled 19; eight in 2008 and three last year, Niese said. All fines were issued to bars.

Dave's Hideaway, at 1730 Lima Ave., has been fined four times; the Veterans of Foreign Wars club at 315 Walnut St. was fined three times; the Walnut Saloon at 335 Walnut St. and Old Stoney Ledge at 752 Howard St. were each fined twice; and the VFW at 122 Clinton Court was fined once.

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