See A Smoker In A Non-Smoking Area? Call 911

Cybercast News Service ^ | 10/19/06 | Kate Monahan

[Froufrou]

Apologies to FReepers that I have oversimplified, in the past, the connection between personal freedoms and smoking. Health issue or not, like it or not, it is a matter of personal freedom.

[Froufrou]

insanity ping

[Mrs Ivan]

What a great way to squander resources.

[traditional1]

It won't be long before there is a "bounty", i.e., if you report a smoker in a non-smoking area, you will be given a reward of a % of the fine.

Is this a great country or what?

[Gay State Conservative]

If you catch someone smoking in a non-smoking area in Omaha, Neb., call the police. The Omaha Police Department (OPD) is encouraging city residents to call 911 in the wake of the citywide ban on smoking that went into effect on Oct. 2.

Murderers and rapists of Omaha,take note.If there are enough of those dastardly smokers wantonly breaking the law at the moment you decide to kill or rape,you just might get away with it.

[Hegemony Cricket]

What - are they going to roll out the fire dep't to put out the "fire"?

[cripplecreek]

What's next? Bringing in a SWAT team because a man was seen carrying a bible?

[divine_moment_of_facts]

"Kauffman noted that smoking is not good for your health but insisted that 911 calls are not the answer."

I thought 911 was for Real Emergencies and Immediate Threats... Guess not in Nebraska! Unfreakinbelievable!

[cll]

"We're such a fat country, by and large. Somebody needs to do something"

So what's next? I see someone eating a bacon cheeseburguer and snitch on him too?!

[traditional1]

Why does the picture come to mind of Gomer Pyle screaming "Citizen's Arrest....Citizen's Arrest" come to mind????

[wideawake]

Wow, what an efficient use of taxpayer-funded resources.

In NYC there is a separate 311 line to call for "quality of life" complaints.

Like if your neighbor is blasting his stereo at 3am on a Wednesday morning or if some clown has decided to doublepark a moving truck on a sidestreet blocking all traffic.

[MineralMan]

Great! Call 911 if someone's breaking into your house, and all the cops are all writing tickets on smokers. I guess revenue generation is Job 1.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I can see the story now;

"... the entire family was masscacred while on hold with 9/11 but the department did round up 3 dozen smokers at the same time."

[AmericanMade1776]

One Person's rights end, where another Person's rights begin.

A Person has a right to smoke if they are of age and desire to do so, but Another Person has the right to a smoke free environment and not have smoke blown in their face. Why would a smoker chose to smoke in a smoke free zone?

[BenLurkin]

Bump

[Dianna]

Mark Welsch, president of the Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution (GASP) of Nebraska, disagrees. "It's not an over-reaction, it's a good use of our city resources" that are being squandered on smokers, according to Welsch.

Smoking isn't the only problem that needs fixing to trim down the costs, Welsch said. There's also a problem with food consumption that needs attention.

What a commie control freak this guy is!

[BritExPatInFla]

But is it a valid 'Offense" to squander 911 resorces and officers on?

[Mugwump]

"Health issue or not, like it or not, it is a matter of personal freedom."

Which goes a long way in explaining why there hasn't been an outright ban by now. The logical thing to do, given the intensity of the rhetoric on this issue, would be a ban. But, you can't control the sheeple with a ban.

I agree completely; this is a personal freedom issue -- and a control issue on the part of the governement ala 1938 Germany. Spooky.

[Enterprise]

What jackasses. If someone calls 911 to report a smoker, will the police roll code 3?

[NautiNurse]

Can't wait to hear about a house fire or heart attack patient who gets a 911 busy signal because of this issue.