CBS News recently aired a segment that spotlighted the fallout from this ridiculous law. Smokers, forced to puff outside the bars, are now jeopardizing the health of pedestrians and local residents. One man, who lives nearby, has to keep the windows of his apartment closed to prevent "second hand smoke" from filtering into his home. Yet another person lamented that she now had to take a deep breath of air before "running" through the group of smokers assembled on the sidewalk.

It should get even more interesting in July when a state ban goes into effect. Already bar owners are seeking to have the law repealed, claiming that 75% of their business is comprised of smokers.

Please bump your list.

Take the party to the streets! I love this place : )

One man, who lives nearby, has to keep the windows of his apartment closed to prevent "second hand smoke" from filtering into his home.

Poor baby. Lucky he wasn't brought up in a Steel Mill Town, eh? I hope his hygiene is good..........sure hate to stand by him if it ISN'T.! ugh!

When Bloomberg was asked where he stands on other "right to clean air" issues such as public farting, he said "Upwind".

In this so-called financial capital of the world, they cannot manage their homeland security responsibilities, because they are obsessed with the trivial pursuits of policing people's pleasure pursuits.

The mayor publically begs for more federal money for police and firemen...for what? to persecute bar-owners and smokers?

Has he strenghtened cooperation with the INS to control illegal immigration? Is the port still a security risk? Will controlling cell phone rings in theatres make it safer?

Michael Bloomberg is an example of a timid politician who is afraid to take on hard challenges. Instead, he prefers to tyranize the city with trivial concerns, while he ignores the elephant in the middle of the room.

Since 9/11 New Yorkers are scared. Persecuting smokers will not make them feel safer!

So if you own your own business and work from your home can you still smoke? What if you have employees who work from your home with you?

This is truely sick no matter what. Non Smokers can just not apply.

This guy lives in New York City, where on many days, the air can count as a vegetable serving, or at least a side order of soup, and he claims he can differentiate cigarette smoke from the rest of the background slop?

One man, who lives nearby, has to keep the windows of his apartment closed to prevent "second hand smoke" from filtering into his home

Not to worry, they'll ban smoking outside soon, and raise the tax to say maybe $10.00 a pack. The black market is flourishing in New York and has for many years.

Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I'm really starting to dislike most politicians.

Yet another person lamented that she now had to take a deep breath of air before "running" through the group of smokers assembled on the sidewalk.

A real drama queen. What does she think all the auto's are outputting.....Glade air freshener?

Spend a night in a crowded bar where everyone is chain smoking and yes, your clothes will stink and you may turn a bit blue, but spend a night in a closed garage with an idling auto...and you'll fall peacefully alseep and then turn a more permanent shade of blue.

IMHO, people who are hyper-senstive should not live in cities.

Sheeeeesh, Law and Order "pulled from the headlines" episodes are going to get boring.

I don't neccessarily have a problem with anti-smoking legislation within reason. Establishments should have the opportunity to make their places smoker and non-smoker friendly. Many establishments have separate areas for smokers and non-smokers already and there are ventilation techniques that can help.

I don't understand the enforcement for bars and pubs because it seems to me smoking and drinking go hand-in-hand, especially when you are talking about places where people gather for extended periods of time, almost like a public meeting place.

In my opinion, if someone can't not smoke for a couple of hours during dinner, he/she has a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

I'm really starting to dislike most politicians.

Welcome to the club. Better late than never!

I came across an interesting report one day while surfing the internet. It mentioned that one of the contributing factors to the fall of the Greek Empire was the extraordinary proliferation of laws. Perhaps, we're reaching the breaking point here!

IMHO, people who are hyper-senstive should not live in cities.

They probably shouldn't live out in the country either. If these hyper-sensitive types can't stand cigarette smoke, what will they do when there's a forest fire? They should probably move somewhere where flammable stuff's hard to come by, like a desert. Mabye they should try Saudi Arabia, since it's desert, and they fit in with the mindset of the mullahs there (same for MADD).

If you're really that sensitive to smoke, that's natural selection trying to tell you something.

They probably shouldn't live out in the country either. If these hyper-sensitive types can't stand cigarette smoke, what will they do when there's a forest fire?

I'll tell you what they do; They shriek and scream and close down stables and dairy farms because of the smell!

We aren't fooled, anyway. The smoking fines are really just a tax,levied at gunpoint, by a corrupt, filthy, festering cesspool of a city.*

*OK, I am just not a City Person, and will never understand how anyone could live in one.

Told you so, smokers. Just as I predicted. The smoking bans in restaurants country wide is all but over. It was a done deal as soon as the restaurant associations called for a level playing field.

CT, is poised to follow suit

OLR Bill Analysis

sSB 908

AN ACT CONCERNING SECONDHAND SMOKE IN WORK PLACES

SUMMARY:

This bill generally tightens restrictions on smoking in workplaces and public buildings. It bans smoking in workplaces where more than 10 people work; restaurants, cafés, and taverns; state and municipal buildings; and health care institutions, except in designated smoking rooms. And it extends the current ban on smoking in public areas of retail food stores to the entire store. Smoking rooms, under the bill, must be completely separated from nonsmoking areas by floor-to-ceiling walls and a door and ventilated in way that prevents smoke from entering nonsmoking areas. Food and beverages may not be served or distributed in them.

The bill reverses the current scheme of regulating smoking in workplaces and restaurants, which generally permits smoking in these places except in designated nonsmoking areas. Current law requires employers who employ 20 or more workers in a facility to set aside nonsmoking areas if their employees ask for one. It permits smoking in restaurants that seat fewer than 75 people and allows larger restaurants to designate smoking areas under certain conditions. It also restricts smoking in designated areas of government buildings and health care institutions to designated rooms, but these need not be completely separate and ventilated.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2003