State smoking ban...ashtrays?
The state I live in banned smoking in adjectives restaurants, bars, public places, etc. Smoking is prohibited within 15 feet of building entrances. You can be fined if you do not follow these up to date rules. Ok, fine. So why are all the ashtrays right outside the doors of buildings? Is it some kind of trap for smokers so some extra money can be made off the fines? What do you conjecture? I don't get it.
Idk, discrimination against smokers is terrible. I really can't explain the ashtray issue, but I sure wish our politicians and legislators would put as much force into some real issues and concerns facing us as they do to try and create a smoke free Utopia for non-smokers.
Living in California (a stupid liberal state) its been prohibited for a while now, NOW they made it against the law to smoke with your kid surrounded by the car. not that im saying its right to do so, it that ITS NOT THE EFFING GOVERNMENTS JOB. im tired of my freedoms being lost.
what state are you within
If an ashtray is supplied, it's an invitation to smoke. If you are fined for smoking within 15 foot outside the same building that supplied the ashtray, I'd say you have a great armour for dismissal. I think that that 15 foot rule thought, is not adhered to by anyone, including any law enforcers. The ashtrays should be further away from the entrances. Most establishments put them close to the door to remind citizens to butt it before entering the establishment.
First: by providing ashtrays, the nicotine addicts have a place to put their cigarette butts, a bit than dropping them on the ground...which would be littering. The ashtray is not...and cannot be considered...an invitation to smoke. It is merely there so that the addicts don't drop their butts on the ground.
Secondly: Consider this information. It is both true and accurate...and has a direct position on your 'problem'.
The 1964 and 1988 U.S. Surgeon General's reports conclusively, irrefutably and clearly stated that 'heroin and nicotine' were both 'equal in addictive strength'. Ergo...you are a recovering nicotine addict.
This is the truth of the situation. The organization and businesses employ the euphemisms "smoking" and "smoker" because they don't want people buying tobacco products to realize they are in reality "addicts". They want you to look at the guy with a crack pipe in his mouth, and the needle contained by his arm and think to yourself "What a lowlife addict!!" BUT....at the same time they want YOU to remain oblivious of the fact YOU TOO are an addict.
Why? Money......Money....Money!!!!!!
One of your contributors mentioned 'rights'. As in...the right to be an user and indulge in his addiction anytime and any place he chooses.
There are....and should NEVER be...any laws protecting the rights of addicts...even if they are indulging within a state sanctioned addiction.
People who write about their 'right' to be nicotine addicts remind me of this observation by Adolf Hitler:
"It is fortunate for those surrounded by power that people do not think."
That is one of the problems with the law. They own not ironed out the finer points. For instance what if a bus stop is in front of a business? Do the ones who are waiting for a bus have to obey the 15 foot rule? Also near some businesses so close to each other what doors are used? What about people walking down the street and endorsement an entrance. The state was in such a hurry to shove this thru that they made it unenforceable. And that is another problem. Who enforce it? Local police? Health department? There is also the problem of who pays for enforcement and who will get the money from fines. These are just some of the problems that have come up since this regulation went into effect.
I find it interesting that they ban smoking in bar though. As a previous answer pointed out, smoking is an addiction... so is alchohol...
oddly very few people are kill in accidents caused by someone that smoked too lots cigarettes.
I think they should just be required to put up a sign that says...
Smoking Allowed Within. Then the population who don't want to breathe the second hand smoke, could go to another establishment. and the smokers could have their own hangout.
