Jump to full article: WSJV FOX 28 (South Bend, IN), 2010-03-20
Intro: Smoke outside or don't smoke at all. That's the word from the city of Elkhart who sent out 8 police officers to enforce their Clean Air Ordinance, or the smoking ban. Since April 2008, you're not supposed to smoke inside any restaurant or bar within city limits. 6 bartenders and 13 customers were handed citations for violating the smoking ban.
The first violation is a verbal warning and the second is a written warning. The third violation is a one hundred dollar fine. And every fine after that is worth $500. At any time, the judge could also tack on about $115 in court fees.
Even though the ordinance is about two years old and there are fines for violations, last night's sting shows that there are still quite a few holdouts. . . .
Thursday night, city police officers made sure 27 places were in compliance with the smoking ban after getting numerous complaints.
"The biggest complaints come from other restaurants or bar owners who say I'm complying and there are others who are not in compliance with it," said Elkhart Police Department Lt. Ed Windbigler. . . .
Lt. Ed Windbigler says this is the first sting they've done to crack down on violations. But it came at a cost.
"It took 8 people to do this enforcement when they should be fighting crime," said Elkhart Police Department Lt. Ed Windbigler. . . .
Most who disapprove of the ordinance say it should be statewide or not at all. And while some businesses cited Thursday night say they'll continue to allow their patrons to smoke indoors, Braddock says not under her watch.
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