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N.D. laundromat owner closes business, fuming over smoking ban
WHDH TV-Boston ^ | 08/06/2005 | WHDH TV Staff

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: North Carolina; US: North Dakota
KEYWORDS: antismoking; commiekota; libertarian; pufflist; smokingban; smokingsmokingban
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To: exnavychick

The Grand Forks, ND smoking ban DOES include private residences if they run a licensed day care.

Also note that private residences are EXEMPTED. (Meaning that the ban is mostly a total smoking ban, except for the exemptions....)


61 posted on 08/07/2005 11:38:22 AM PDT by invoman
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To: Gabz

Put your ping list on your profile page, silly!


62 posted on 08/07/2005 11:38:55 AM PDT by Doohickey (If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...I will choose freewill.)
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To: Boundless

Seems to me that he's got the only laundromat in town, so apparently no one else saw the huge profits to be made from a smoke-free laundromat, after factoring out the 2 neurotics who must be pounding their long johns with a rock down at the stream.


63 posted on 08/07/2005 11:40:33 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Madame Dufarge
You people?

You are well known on Free Republic...the Smoke Nazis...no one else's opinion matters except your own little cabal...you swoop in and ruin threads constantly. You are bullies, smug, rude, arrogant...and a lot of us don't like you. You don't have reasoned debate. You are nasty and vicious. We could rattle off your names in an instant.

...don't feign innocence with me....

64 posted on 08/07/2005 11:40:45 AM PDT by paulat
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To: exnavychick
Do they even allow them to add some kind of special ventilation if they -I can't believe I'm typing this- want to smoke in a part of the house away from the center, I wonder?

No.
Not in Grand Forks, North Dakota

65 posted on 08/07/2005 11:40:57 AM PDT by invoman
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To: diogenes ghost

I thought when we sold our house and bought our trailer and hit the open road that we would settle down in GG. We have not found it yet (physically) but we know more about what states are fun and what states are socialist. (PS head
South.)


66 posted on 08/07/2005 11:41:18 AM PDT by KC_for_Freedom (Sailing the highways of America, and loving it.)
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To: invoman

Niiiiiicce.

I wonder how much longer they're going to continue to allow people to smoke in their homes, especially if they have children! *gasp*


67 posted on 08/07/2005 11:41:56 AM PDT by exnavychick (Whom the gods would destroy they first make chads.)
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To: paulat

The Chemical industry has done very serious damage to the air, soil and water quality in Delaware over the decades, and the most they get is a slap on the wrist when they make dangerous environmental "mistakes" and "promise not to do it again."


When you resort to personal attacks you have lost the argument.....


68 posted on 08/07/2005 11:43:39 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
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To: KC_for_Freedom

>> Evidently never figured out that people take their
>> clothes there to be cleaned, and not to be infused
>> with the smell of burned tobacco.

> Of course the free market would have solved this problem,

It sounds like the free market did solve this problem.
The guy was running a charity for smokers with dirty
clothes. He never made any money at it.

Presumably, the non-smoking laundries in the area do
actually make money.

The misguided law in this case was actually doing the
proprietor a favor. But that's not the job of the law,
and he was too addicted to figure it out anyway.

And again, none of which is to be construed as an
endorsement of the dim-witted nanny-statism afoot here.


69 posted on 08/07/2005 11:43:50 AM PDT by Boundless
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To: Madame Dufarge

It's just wonderful to have all that pressure taken off of me..........barf.


70 posted on 08/07/2005 11:44:30 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
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To: Gabz

You people....LOL!!!


71 posted on 08/07/2005 11:44:40 AM PDT by paulat
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To: invoman

Figures. But, with a daycare, I can be okay with that, really. It's just irritating. But, if you open up your home for a business venture like this, I guess you are opening the door for the nanny-state in addition to your customers.


72 posted on 08/07/2005 11:44:44 AM PDT by exnavychick (Whom the gods would destroy they first make chads.)
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To: Boundless

Boundless...you are a beacon of common sense!!


73 posted on 08/07/2005 11:45:26 AM PDT by paulat
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To: exnavychick
Do they even allow them to add some kind of special ventilation if they -I can't believe I'm typing this- want to smoke in a part of the house away from the center, I wonder?

A simple one word answer - NO.

Prior to the ban all home care centers were non-smoking in the area devoted to the care center.......other parts of the huse were not restricted beyond doors to non care areas being kept closed.

74 posted on 08/07/2005 11:46:38 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
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To: paulat
and a lot of us don't like you.

What a relief, I'm doing something right.

We could rattle off your names in an instant.

Who's "we?" Your cabal?

Rattle them off.

75 posted on 08/07/2005 11:47:26 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: invoman
If the pro-smoking people weren't all spineless wusses some of them would engage in "commando operations" against their enemies---such as the Grand Forks Herald for instance.

The leftist freaks do it all the time but more normal folks just don't seem to have the stomach for any,uhh, civil disobedience.

76 posted on 08/07/2005 11:48:27 AM PDT by Rockpile
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To: Doohickey

LOL!!!!!!!

I'm just starting to compile the list, so I don't have it there yet :)

(do you want on?)


77 posted on 08/07/2005 11:48:30 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
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To: Madame Dufarge

I'd rather talk to Boundless...but thanks, anyway!! Smooch!!!


78 posted on 08/07/2005 11:48:46 AM PDT by paulat
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To: paulat
You are well known on Free Republic...the Smoke Nazis...no one else's opinion matters except your own little cabal...you swoop in and ruin threads constantly. You are bullies, smug, rude, arrogant...and a lot of us don't like you. You don't have reasoned debate. You are nasty and vicious. We could rattle off your names in an instant.

Hey, Pot! C'mere a minute, I want to introduce you to Kettle. I think you'd get along great!

79 posted on 08/07/2005 11:48:55 AM PDT by exnavychick (Whom the gods would destroy they first make chads.)
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To: Madame Dufarge; paulat

The argument is lost when the name calling begins.......ROFL!!!


80 posted on 08/07/2005 11:49:35 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
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