The Sioux Falls city council is set to vote on a ban next week. There was talk of several different amendments being proposed (like exceptions from golf courses and the Events Center).
I think several city councilors realized that the amendments would quickly sour the ban, and for the most part I think they do agree on a up or down vote AS is. In other words, it would apply to public parks, golf courses and the Events Center.
But there seems to be a split on whether or not it will get the 5 votes to pass. One of the arguments against the ban is that tobacco is a legal product (to those over 18). One of the ideas that is being floated in order to get a majority of the council on board with the ban is to eliminate the fine. In other words, if you are caught smoking in the banned areas, you would simply be asked to put it out and get a warning (unless you are underage).
Would you support it if there was no fine?
I think a lot of councilors are struggling with this ban, not because of the language and fine alone but how they were handed this ordinance by the administration. It is NOT the job of the executive branch and his minions to write ordinances, that is the responsibility of the council, the legislative branch.
I think if it does pass, it will be without a fine, otherwise, I think it will go down in flames.
Just don’t put them in jail.
Amen! Those tobacco users pay taxes too. It’s not illegal to smoke. We tried to outlaw alcohol usage and it didn’t work.
Continue a campaign to encourage healthy living, but don’t put our police force to work giving out $95 tickets to smokers. They have more important matters to attend to.
Smoking is an individual privilege. Outdoors adds CO2 to the atmosphere but car exhaust is worse. Inside is a matter of 2nd hand smoke affecting others. Someone outside a building gets public persecution for punishment. Involving the legal system is a waste and a hard case to prove. Next thing, you can’t fart in or outside a building.
Jeff, don’t put it past our mayor. He orders the SFPD to round up homeless people for leaning on the wrong fence.
Chez Louie in Mitchell has escargot. Road trip?
Councilor Neitzert’s perspective on it;
http://kelo.com/blogs/the-daily-dose/742/neitzert-elaborates-position-on-outdoor-smoking-ban/
Whoever proposed this must be living under a rock.
Sioux Falls has bigger problems than this. Look at the most recent crime stats.
Here’s an idea. Instead of worrying about who is smoking outside of the EC, set up saturation patrols right outside the EC parking lots to catch all those who are driving under the influence!