News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
September 2, 2012

Excise police not blowing smoke over state ban

Investigators study complaints, issue exemptions, dismiss false claims

Maureen Hayden CNHI

INDIANAPOLIS — Two months into a statewide smoking ban, the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission’s State Excise Police have fielded nearly 300 complaints about the new law being violated, with allegations ranging from businesses flaunting the law to the improper placement of ashtrays and “no smoking” signage.

But that may be a sign that the law is still in its infancy: Many of the complaints have been dismissed as unfounded or resulted in warning notices to give those covered by the new law some time to understand how to implement it.  

“Our goal is to get people into compliance with the law,” said Cpl. Travis Thickstun, a spokesman for the excise police, one of several agencies responsible for enforcing the law. “But we’re still in the education phase; there are still people who need help understanding what the law requires.”

The Indiana General Assembly passed a statewide smoking ban earlier this year, but it was laden with exemptions that confuse even those who thought they didn’t have to go smoke-free.

Social and fraternal clubs are among the 11 exemptions spelled out in the law. But more than a dozen across the state have been issued warnings by the state excise police for violating the smoking ban.

That’s because the clubs aren’t automatically exempt. To actually be exempt from the ban, club’s members have to take a vote, then file for an exemption that has to be approved by the excise police. Even then, there can be only one smoking room in the club and no one under 18 is allowed to pass through it to go to the bathroom or a nonsmoking area.

It’s unclear exactly how all the complaints have been resolved. The state excise police, which has only a few dozen officers in the field, hands off some of the complaints to local health departments to resolve.

Thickstun said the state excise police have approved about 1,000 exemptions so far for bars, taverns, casinos, cigar bars and other establishments eligible under the law’s rules that allow smoking in some places while banning at others.

Many of the complaints handled by the state excise police have come through their website, where complaints can be filed online (www.in.gov/atc). They investigate complaints only about violations of the state smoking ban; cities and counties that have their own smoking bans take care of complaints about their local bans.

Many of the complaints are aimed at businesses that may have allowed smoking where they shouldn’t have. But some of those complaints have caught by surprise those accused of violating the law.  

The management at Hoosier Lanes Strike & Spare in New Albany thought they were in compliance with the law when they cleared the bowling alley of all ashtrays, admonished any errant smokers and posted the state-approved “no smoking” signs throughout the building and on all public entryways.

“We even put [no-smoking] signs on the bathroom entrances and inside the stalls,” said assistant manager Dave Belden said. “We figured that would be the first place they’d cheat.”

The bowling alley’s managers knew the smoking ban applied to their bar inside the bowling alley. But they didn’t think the ban applied to their bar next door, which has a separate public entrance and is open only on Friday nights for karaoke.

But it does, as they learned after somebody filed a complaint and a warning citation was issued by the state excise police. Turns out the next-door bar and the bowling alley also share an interior door. So under the state’s smoking ban, both buildings have to be smoke-free.

Belden said the smoking ban has attracted some new customers to the bowling alley, but also driven some regular customers away, especially league bowlers who weren’t happy about having to change out of their bowling shoes and back into their street shoes so they could step outside for a smoke.

“I don’t know where they plan on going,” Belden said. “I don’t think there’s anywhere, anymore, you can bowl and smoke.”

Maureen Hayden is the Indiana Statehouse bureau chief for CNHI, the parent company of the Tribune-Star. She can be reached at maureen.hayden@indianamediagroup.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla. AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God' Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
NDN Video
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school Robert Pattinson Moves Out
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News