EDITORIAL
Nacogdoches might put smokers out in the cold soon
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Opinion
Do you enjoy lighting up after dinner?
Depending on how the voting goes on Tuesday, anyone who is seen smoking in a bar, restaurant, night club or any other public venue could face up to $2,000 in fines.
If the ordinance passes, Nacogdoches will join several other cities across the country operating under this smoke-free zone.
This new law would without a doubt be helpful to many people who do not smoke and are bothered by the smell. However, Nacogdoches is a college town, and a move like this could have a reverse reaction.
It is understandable that the new law would include places like restaurants and places where people are employed, but to tell someone that they are not allowed to smoke in a bar or a nightclub seems a little extreme.
In a recent article printed in the Daily Sentinel, City Manager Jim Jeffers was quoted as saying that many non-smokers feel as if their rights to enter an establishment have been taken away when there are people smoking inside.
Isn't this a double-edged sword though?
If a smoker would like to enter an establishment but knows that he/she faces the chance of being fined for smoking inside, doesn't he/she feel as if their rights have been taken away?
Whose rights are more important?
If you have an opinion on this matter, the meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Nacogdoches City Hall.
If this new ordinance is passed it will go into effect in 60 days. That means if you are a graduating smoker you will never have to know a Nacogdoches that blacklists you, but if you are going to be around for a little while longer it would not be a bad idea to enjoy the ordinance-free time you have left.
Depending on how the voting goes on Tuesday, anyone who is seen smoking in a bar, restaurant, night club or any other public venue could face up to $2,000 in fines.
If the ordinance passes, Nacogdoches will join several other cities across the country operating under this smoke-free zone.
This new law would without a doubt be helpful to many people who do not smoke and are bothered by the smell. However, Nacogdoches is a college town, and a move like this could have a reverse reaction.
It is understandable that the new law would include places like restaurants and places where people are employed, but to tell someone that they are not allowed to smoke in a bar or a nightclub seems a little extreme.
In a recent article printed in the Daily Sentinel, City Manager Jim Jeffers was quoted as saying that many non-smokers feel as if their rights to enter an establishment have been taken away when there are people smoking inside.
Isn't this a double-edged sword though?
If a smoker would like to enter an establishment but knows that he/she faces the chance of being fined for smoking inside, doesn't he/she feel as if their rights have been taken away?
Whose rights are more important?
If you have an opinion on this matter, the meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Nacogdoches City Hall.
If this new ordinance is passed it will go into effect in 60 days. That means if you are a graduating smoker you will never have to know a Nacogdoches that blacklists you, but if you are going to be around for a little while longer it would not be a bad idea to enjoy the ordinance-free time you have left.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
ElliottJGriffin
posted 4/14/08 @ 11:42 AM CST
Vote this down. The govt should not be regulating ANY behavior, especially when an interest third-party is involved (the bars, eateries, etc.) It should be at the discretion of the shop owner to regulate the behavior of the patrons on their private property. (Continued…)
Charity Vaughn
Charity
posted 4/17/08 @ 10:02 AM CST
<< Much like the job market during the gilded age, I am unable to go to a sit-down restaurant without smoke because they all allow smokers. My apologies that the city is making you step outside for five minutes to smoke in order for people to enjoy themselves and not die slowly along with you, but some of us would like to leave a restaurant without smelling of cigarette smoke. (Continued…)
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