Smoking in Public Places Will Be Prohibited

More good news on the second hand smoke free front!

Tyler City Council unanimously passed the proposed non-smoking ordinance following a three-plus-hour special meeting at City Hall. The ordinance will go into effect June 1.

The ordinance calls for stricter smoking regulations that would eliminate smoking in public places and places of employment, including restaurants and bars, according to Susan Guthrie, City of Tyler communications director.

Anonymouse wrote:

More good news on the second hand smoke free front!
Tyler City Council unanimously passed the proposed non-smoking ordinance following a three-plus-hour special meeting at City Hall. The ordinance will go into effect June 1.
The ordinance calls for stricter smoking regulations that would eliminate smoking in public places and places of employment, including restaurants and bars, according to Susan Guthrie, City of Tyler communications director.

Never heard of them.

Banned in restaurants and bars? That's odd. Very odd for that city.

Anonymouse wrote:

More good news on the second hand smoke free front!
Tyler City Council unanimously passed the proposed non-smoking ordinance following a three-plus-hour special meeting at City Hall. The ordinance will go into effect June 1.
The ordinance calls for stricter smoking regulations that would eliminate smoking in public places and places of employment, including restaurants and bars, according to Susan Guthrie, City of Tyler communications director.

Good, keep em coming. The more bans, the more impossible to enforce.

Kent wrote:

<quoted text>Never heard of them.

Population: 76

Tobacco-is-our-State-Bird wrote:

<quoted text>
Population: 76

I'm sure you meant 76K. That was an easy mistake.

premier wrote:

Banned in restaurants and bars? That's odd. Very odd for that city.

This ordinance was very obviously written by the ACS group to include bars for this city. I am surprised that the city council left the ban on smoking in bars in the language because there are no bars in this county or the city. No liquor stores, no bars, nada, nada, nada. The private clubs (vets, etc. are exempt). I just commented because they completely (legal counsel and all) bought the anti language. Boy, that city council is right on top of things!!

Of course, there is a town not too far from this one that has a smoking ban and putting folks out of business, but the court threw out their ordinance to keep landlords from renting to illegal aliens. Seems we just can't figure out what to do with that "public property" and which side of the law we are on.

premier wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure you meant 76K. That was an easy mistake.

Tyler Texas: Estimated population in July 2006: 94,146

http://www.city-data.com/city/Tyler-Texas.htm...

Anonymouse wrote:

<quoted text>
Tyler Texas: Estimated population in July 2006: 94,146
http://www.city-data.com/city/Tyler-Texas.htm...

This must be a RWJF dream town. No need for a smoking ban in bars in Tyler, TX. There aren't any. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/IntheNews/Et...
Police in Tyler, Texas, are aggressively arresting bootleggers in that dry town. It’s easy to be guilty of bootlegging in Texas. Police report that possessing more than 24 cans of 12 ounce beers or over one quart of distilled spirits (whiskey, vodka, tequila, etc.) is prima facie evidence of the intent to sell alcohol -- that is, it’s evidence of bootlegging. With prima facie evidence, no other evidence is necessary to convict.

Thus, possessing a single case plus one more beer or over one quart of liquor would be grounds for arrest. Forget about having a party or stocking up on your next trip to a wet county if you want to avoid a $2,000 fine, six months in jail, and a criminal record.

Sheri wrote:

<quoted text>
This must be a RWJF dream town. No need for a smoking ban in bars in Tyler, TX. There aren't any. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/IntheNews/Et...
Police in Tyler, Texas, are aggressively arresting bootleggers in that dry town. It’s easy to be guilty of bootlegging in Texas. Police report that possessing more than 24 cans of 12 ounce beers or over one quart of distilled spirits (whiskey, vodka, tequila, etc.) is prima facie evidence of the intent to sell alcohol -- that is, it’s evidence of bootlegging. With prima facie evidence, no other evidence is necessary to convict.
Thus, possessing a single case plus one more beer or over one quart of liquor would be grounds for arrest. Forget about having a party or stocking up on your next trip to a wet county if you want to avoid a $2,000 fine, six months in jail, and a criminal record.

This city was an easy 'buy' for RWJF. There is a BIG state university hospital complex there. They have already bought into that university hospital system with huge grants. The Hospital site was originally a military base in WW II, then a TB hospital, then it was just called the 'chest hospital'. The docs there are from the old TB days.

I am still amazed that, first they bought the cookie cutter ACS-written law even though it didn't actually apply to their city. Then, that Farmers Branch (100 miles from Tyler)again has a lawsuit for trying to enforce US law relating to ILLEGAL aliens. Are we OK if we are smoking illegal aliens? They seem to be the only untouchables in this country.

Anonymouse wrote:

<quoted text>
Tyler Texas: Estimated population in July 2006: 94,146
http://www.city-data.com/city/Tyler-Texas.htm...

Canada: Like Mexico, but with snow.

Sheri wrote:

<quoted text>
This must be a RWJF dream town. No need for a smoking ban in bars in Tyler, TX. There aren't any. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/IntheNews/Et...
Police in Tyler, Texas, are aggressively arresting bootleggers in that dry town. It’s easy to be guilty of bootlegging in Texas. Police report that possessing more than 24 cans of 12 ounce beers or over one quart of distilled spirits (whiskey, vodka, tequila, etc.) is prima facie evidence of the intent to sell alcohol -- that is, it’s evidence of bootlegging. With prima facie evidence, no other evidence is necessary to convict.
Thus, possessing a single case plus one more beer or over one quart of liquor would be grounds for arrest. Forget about having a party or stocking up on your next trip to a wet county if you want to avoid a $2,000 fine, six months in jail, and a criminal record.

With average incomes in the low 30s and the poverty level affecting 1/5 of the town ---- not a place I would want to live ANYway.

I've never been there .... I'll TIVO the next few episodes of 'COPS' and maybe I'll get lucky.

Tobacco-is-our-State-Bird wrote:

<quoted text>
---- not a place I would want to live ANYway.

but if they had rejected the smoking ban....

Tobacco-is-our-State-Bird wrote:

<quoted text>
With average incomes in the low 30s and the poverty level affecting 1/5 of the town ---- not a place I would want to live ANYway.
I've never been there .... I'll TIVO the next few episodes of 'COPS' and maybe I'll get lucky.

If you want some big bucks in Tyler, you could apply for this job at
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Also according to the foundation, in barely half a lifetime, childhood obesity has erupted into a full-scale epidemic that is threatening the lives and futures of children.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's priorities will be to:
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From Robert Wood Johnson Foundation e-mail, 4/4/07icon
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/al18-4-2.shtm

Tyler is hardly the first city in Texas to pass a smoking ban. If you look at the list you'll find that there are some that go back five or six years.
Abilene, January 3, 2007 voter-approved smoking ban took effect, banning smoking in all restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
Alvin, 2002 banned in restaurants. Bars and taverns exempt.
Arlington, January 1, 2007. Ban includes all restaurants and clubs as well as outdoor areas within 50 feet of entrance or exit of establishment.
Austin, September 1, 2005 ban extended to all bars and clubs. Smoking is still allowed in bingo halls, fraternities, hotel rooms, and nursing homes. The ban was approved by only 52% of voters.
Beaumont, ban takes effect August 1, 2006 in all enclosed public places, including workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
Benbrook, effective November 1, 2006. Ban includes all public buildings and within 25 feet (7.6 m) of entrance or exit of same. For the purposes of this ordinance,'public building' includes home offices, regardless of access to public, as well as storage buildings, detached garages, or any other building on residential site or other place in the city. Ban includes allowing a person to smoke.
Boerne, effective March 27, 2007. Banned in all public places within the city limits, except bars.
Brenham, July 20, 2007, banned in all workplaces, except bars and manufacturing facilities.
Carrollton, banned in restaurants.
Dallas, March 1, 2003 banned in all restaurants, bowling alleys, and city-owned facilities. Bars are exempt and hotels can offer smoking rooms. Private clubs are still subject to these regulations.
El Paso, January 2, 2002 banned in all workplaces, bingo halls, restaurants, bars, and public areas and waiting rooms of doctor's facilities.
Galveston, February, 2006, rejected ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces[69]
Harlingen, April 2, 2005 banned in all public places except bars, nightclubs, and at Valley Race Park, a local dog track.
Houston, September 5, 2005 banned in restaurants, but excluded bar areas inside restaurants and bars/taverns. Ban extended to bars and restaurant bar areas in September 2007.
Laredo, October 2006 banned in all public places, workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Was amended earlier this year to exempt establishments that prohibit minors under 21 from entering.
Lubbock, July 22, 2004 banned in all public places, except for any smoking areas in restaurants or bars that are completely walled off from the rest of the building, and have a separate ventilation system. Bingo halls and designated hotel smoking rooms exempt.
McAllen, October 23, 2007 banned in all places, except private clubs, tobacco shops, and bars that get 70% or greater sales from alcoholic beverages.
New Braunfels, banned in most indoor public places, including restaurants. Private clubs and stand-alone bars exempt.
Odessa, banned in restaurants, except for any smoking areas in restaurants that are completely walled off from the rest of the building, and have a separate ventilation system.
Pearland, November 30, 2007 banned in enclosed public places, including bars, businesses, clubs, employee lounges, entertainment venues, offices, restaurants, retail stores, workplaces, seating areas of outdoor arenas and stadiums, city-owned parks and playgrounds, and within 25 feet of entrances, operable windows and ventilation systems.
Plano, banned in restaurants. Was amended earlier this year, and expanded on June 1, 2007 to cover all places, including restaurants and bars.
Robinson, banned in all public places. Exempts bars.
Rollingwood, banned in restaurants and bars.
Round Rock, banned in workplaces and restaurants. Bars are exempt.

San Antonio, 2003 previous smoking restrictions ordinance was updated and strengthened - now banned in all "public places", including restaurants, "except for enclosed bar areas, enclosed dining areas and outdoor seating areas designated as smoking" - There are certain exclusions (many of these also require than no one younger than 18 be admitted into the smoking areas): billiard halls without food; bingo facilities without food; comedy clubs; separately enclosed bar areas within restaurants; separately enclosed areas and outdoor areas of restaurants (designated non-smoking outdoor areas must be provided); designated smoking rooms in hotels (not more than 1/4 of rooms may be so designated); outdoor bus stops; private residences not used for certain business purposes (child/adult day care or health care facility); certain private nursing home rooms; restaurants, hotel and motel conference or meeting rooms, and public and private assembly rooms, when these places are being used for private functions (with some restrictions); retail tobacco stores (with some restrictions); Stand-alone bars, where persons under the age of eighteen (18) years are not admitted; and tobacco product manufacturing facilities.(Ord. No. 97895,§ 1, 8-7-03)
Schertz, 2001 banned in restaurants, except if restaurant bar sales account for greater than 25% of a restaurant's business. Bars exempt.
Southlake, June 1, 2007, banned in all workplaces, restaurants, bars, and outdoor patio areas. The ordinance, as written, also bans smoking in all motel and hotel rooms.
Sugar Land, January 1, 2008 banned in all businesses, except bars.
West Lake Hills, smoking banned in public places.
Woodway, banned in restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_...
And there are other cities like Amarillo that are considering a smoking ban, and Dallas is considering strengthening their ban to include bars. Also the pressure on the state legislature is increasing as other states pass bans.

Peter in Public Places Will Be Prohibited.

Anonymouse wrote:

<quoted text>
but if they had rejected the smoking ban....

No -- and the smoking ban in a town that has no bars and is dry only indicates that the local government has nothing to do. Not only that, nut as depressed as the area is, it shoots itself in the foot by turning away ANY revenue!

By the way ... I don't live my life by where I do or do not smoke. I'm concerned about the OWNERS of the establishments that have just gotten thier business plans blown out of the water.

You obviously do not have any experience in owning your own eating establishment.... or caring about he country.

Anonymouse wrote:

San Antonio, 2003 previous smoking restrictions ordinance was updated and strengthened - now banned in all "public places", including restaurants, "except for enclosed bar areas, enclosed dining areas and outdoor seating areas designated as smoking" - There are certain exclusions (many of these also require than no one younger than 18 be admitted into the smoking areas): billiard halls without food; bingo facilities without food; comedy clubs; separately enclosed bar areas within restaurants; separately enclosed areas and outdoor areas of restaurants (designated non-smoking outdoor areas must be provided); designated smoking rooms in hotels (not more than 1/4 of rooms may be so designated); outdoor bus stops; private residences not used for certain business purposes (child/adult day care or health care facility); certain private nursing home rooms; restaurants, hotel and motel conference or meeting rooms, and public and private assembly rooms, when these places are being used for private functions (with some restrictions); retail tobacco stores (with some restrictions); Stand-alone bars, where persons under the age of eighteen (18) years are not admitted; and tobacco product manufacturing facilities.(Ord. No. 97895,§ 1, 8-7-03)
Schertz, 2001 banned in restaurants, except if restaurant bar sales account for greater than 25% of a restaurant's business. Bars exempt.
Southlake, June 1, 2007, banned in all workplaces, restaurants, bars, and outdoor patio areas. The ordinance, as written, also bans smoking in all motel and hotel rooms.
Sugar Land, January 1, 2008 banned in all businesses, except bars.
West Lake Hills, smoking banned in public places.
Woodway, banned in restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_...
And there are other cities like Amarillo that are considering a smoking ban, and Dallas is considering strengthening their ban to include bars. Also the pressure on the state legislature is increasing as other states pass bans.

What's your point?