Posted on 08/07/2005 10:13:06 AM PDT by elkfersupper
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- The day the Legislature approved a smoking ban for most North Dakota businesses, Dennis Laches put a sign on his laundry and television repair shop, announcing he would close when the ban took effect Aug. 1.
"Nobody knew if he was going to go through with it," said Troy Mosbrucker, the mayor of Mott, a town of about 800 in southwestern North Dakota. "He had a point to prove, and he proved it."
As promised, Laches closed his business that day. He said it had nothing to do with his pack-a-day habit. Rather, he said, it was a matter of fairness.
"The state of North Dakota is attempting to make me discriminate against another person or group of people," said Laches, 59. "I don't believe government of any kind should be allowed to dictate what I do at my own business and my own building."
State officials say they know of no other businesses that have closed because of the new smoking ban, though police have rounded up ash trays in some bingo parlors.
The new state law bans smoking in most public areas and workplaces. Bars are exempt, unless they have a restaurant in the smoking area. Violators can be fined up to $500. A building owner who allows illegal smoking also faces fines of up to $500 for multiple infractions within one year.
Law enforcement officers are trying to adjust to the new rules.
"It's almost embarrassing walking in and being called the smoke police," said Ward County Sheriff Vern Erck said. "We have better things to do, but we'll enforce it."
But health officials say feedback had generally been positive.
"We had some (people) call that are dissatisfied, but it's been very few," said Kathleen Mangskau, director of the Health Department's tobacco prevention and control program.
Two days after Laches closed his shop, an economic development group purchased his laundry machines, mostly to keep the 100 or so visiting custom wheat harvesters in town.
"If they leave town to do their laundry, then they leave the town grocery, the gas station and the cafe," Mosbrucker said. "Everything loses."
Laches said his business was never a moneymaker in the 17 years he owned it. Now, he'll either retire or move to another state to find work.
"If I find a job, it's going to have to be in a state that allows smoking," he said.
"The state of North Dakota is attempting to make me discriminate against another person or group of people," said Laches, 59. "I don't believe government of any kind should be allowed to dictate what I do at my own business and my own building."
Now, he'll either retire or move to another state to find work. "If I find a job, it's going to have to be in a state that allows smoking," he said.
Ping!
It took him 17 years to realize that it was time to quit the business?
"The state of North Dakota is attempting to make me discriminate against another person or group of people," said Laches, 59. "I don't believe government of any kind should be allowed to dictate what I do at my own business and my own building."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Last straw? Maybe just an excuse?
In any event, the townspeople think they have to have it, or they wouldn't have pitched in to buy the machines.
I think the guy is a fascinatingly great curmudgeon. We need more of those around.
That was fabulous, wasn't it?
DUH.................they should have thought of this and spoke to legislators before this assinine law was passed.........
"....an economic development group purchased his laundry machines, mostly to keep the 100 or so visiting custom wheat harvesters in town."
North Dakota sounds like a strange place.
In an e-mail to Governor Hoeven (R), I stated that maybe they should just ban tobacco outright so the State's coffers could go through cold turkey with the rest of us.
Once again, the wolves have decided what is for lunch.
Maybe he was able to pull a decent living out of a small profit over the years and finally decided all the work just wasn't really worth the trouble.
Not much going on in that particular part of the state, apparently.
He's right, though. When wheat harvest comes around, there's a large group of custom harvesters start out in S. Texas and follow the ripening wheat to the Canadian border and beyond.
If they can't find goods and services in a particular hamlet, they just bring their own or move on down the road.
Bad Boys, Bad Boys what you gonna do when they come for you...
Thanks, Gabz. I need to archive the names on that list. My short-term memory is horrible these days. I can remember all the lyrics to "American Pie", but I can't remember what I had for breakfast.
That's because they know you don't care what they think.
Very good, Joe.
Is this what we won the Cold War for?!
The laundromat owner said the business barely paid its own bills anyway, but if he can't be there all day like he usually is to keep an eye on the water pipes and fuse box, he won't be there at all.
Mosbrucker tried to persuade him to open it a couple hours a week for the custom cutters, at least, but Laches said they should blame the inconvenience on state leaders, not him.
Laches regularly entertained a group of Mott fellas, who convened for coffee, cards and a smoke or two in the morning.
Now, that's history, too, although Laches does point out that he can smoke in his building if he wants to, now that it's closed.
"I'm not a rich person and in six to eight months, I'll be destitute," he said.
snip
Laches said it wouldn't have mattered to him if the local police never showed up to write him a ticket.
The law's the law, he said.
After 17 years, "The state has taken my business away," he said.
snip
Laches said for $10,000, he'd sell the building, lock, stock and wash barrel. He'd sell the wash and drying machines for $2,000.
Almost embarrassing? If it isn't completely embarrassing then why not make it a career? Join the Federal Agency to Restrict Tobacco and get yourself some Federal benefits as well as a spiffy jacket with the agency acronym emblazoned in big yellow letters on the back.
> Laches said his business was never a moneymaker
> in the 17 years he owned it.
Evidently never figured out that people take their clothes
there to be cleaned, and not to be infused with the smell
of burned tobacco. Only the customers who smoke might
fail to notice the problem.
None of which is to be construed as an endorsement of
the dim-witted nanny-statism afoot here.
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