Senate Tentatively Approves Statewide Smoking Ban
Bill Amended To Limit Ban To Restaurants Where Alcohol Is Not Served
POSTED: 11:45 am MDT April 27,
2005
UPDATED: 2:06 pm MDT April 27,
2005
DENVER -- The state Senate has given tentative approval to a measure that would ban smoking in restaurants across Colorado.The bill was amended to limit the ban to restaurants that do not serve alcohol, excluding casinos and bars. Supporters say it will give the bill a better chance of passing.
Denver Democratic Sen. Dan Grossman said he sponsored the measure, because he wants to create a level playing field for businesses in the 13 communities that already have similar bans.Restaurants in those communities have complained, saying smokers are taking their business to nearby cities where there isn't a smoking ban.Grossman said government already regulates public health to cover carcinogens like asbestos, and said his bill would extend those protections to second-hand smoke for workers and customers across Colorado.Some Republican senators oppose the ban because they say it infringes on personal freedom and property rights.Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper -- a restaurant owner for 20 years -- had gone on record in support of the measure, along with small business owner and Cortez Republican Rep. Mark Larson.Grossman's original measure would have banned smoking in public meetings, elevators, mass transit, grocery stores, bars, casinos and three-fourths of the hotel rooms in the state.Violators would have to pay a $200 fine for the first offense, $300 for a second offense in the same calendar year and $500 for every violation after that during the same year. The Senate approved an amendment by Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, that would exclude casinos and bars from the ban. Johnson said that would give it a better chance of passing.Several cities and counties across Colorado have already enacted smoking bans, but a statewide ban would supersede all of them.Fort Collins, Greeley, Pueblo, Alamosa, Arvada, Aspen, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Montrose, Snowmass, Superior, Telluride and unincorporated Boulder County already have similar bans. Some groups have been trying to ban smoking in Denver for years.Additional Info:
|
|
Should We Have Statewide Ban? Join Our Online Discussion. Colorado General Assembly Sen. Dan Grossman State Senate
Previous Stories:
- March 23, 2005: Statewide Smoking Ban Bill Snuffed Out
- March 16, 2005: Lawmakers To Discuss Statewide Smoking Ban
- March 16, 2005: Lawmakers To Discuss Statewide Smoking Ban
- October 12, 2004: Arvada Passes Smoking Ban
- July 1, 2003: Proposed Denver Ban Goes Up In Smoke
- June 30, 2003: Denver Council To Decide Smoking Ban
- June 24, 2003: Council Snuffs Out Public Hearing On Smoking Ban
- June 23, 2003: City Council To Take Up Smoking Ban Issue
- May 21, 2003: Smoking Ban Upheld In Pueblo
- May 20, 2003: Pueblo Voters Hoping To Clear Smoking Ban Issue
- April 28, 2003: Denver To Announce Support Of Smoking Ban
- December 18, 2002: Fort Collins Snuffs Out Smoking
- November 20, 2002: Fort Collins Approves Anti-Smoking Ordinance
- November 19, 2002: Fort Collins May Go Smoke-Free
- October 24, 2002: Smoke-Free Denver Possible?
- October 8, 2002: No Lighting Up In Louisville
Copyright 2008 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
