Citizen's Arrest....Citizen's Arrest !
Posted on 10/19/2006 7:25:52 AM PDT by Froufrou
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.
Teresa Negron, sergeant in charge of public information of the OPD, explained that the department encourages observers of infractions to pick up the phone to report the infraction -- just like they would for any other crime they observe being committed.
"Citizens or business owners that observe a violation to the smoking ban are urged to call 911 and report the violation," Negron told Cybercast News Service. "[It's like] any other crime that happens in any city -- if somebody sees a crime happen, they can call 911 and report it."
Negron did not necessarily endorse immediately calling 911 but still saw it as a viable option.
"What I would recommend for people to do is bring it to the attention of the management, and if that doesn't stop, then obviously contact us, and we'll respond and we'll handle it," she said.
However, the calls are not high priority.
"The first week, we had maybe 10 calls in the entire city," said Negron. "Calls concerning the smoking ban were not high-priority calls, so we have a system in place that calls that come in and have a higher priority will be handled."
The penalty is a citation and fee for individuals caught violating the ban -- $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses, according to a summary of the city ordinance posted online.
"Obviously, they would receive a citation for violating the smoking ordinance," said Negron.
According to some, however, the new law will encourage people to become "snitches."
"I think that it's one thing for people to monitor themselves," said Amy Kauffman, research fellow for the Hudson Institute. "It's another thing to ask people to monitor their friends, neighbors and cohorts. It is turning people into snitches."
Kauffman called this "a horrible thing" and a waste of city resources.
"To use 911 for this purpose goes against what 911 is designated for. It is an emergency service. These are not emergencies," Kauffman said.
She further classified the situation as over the top.
"To take 911, which is supposed to respond to someone within I guess one to three minutes, and use it for this and to clog the lines with busybodies phoning in on their neighbors is ridiculous."
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.
"I think about 13 percent of our total Medicaid expenses are caused by tobacco," Welsch said. "So, I'm paying too much. I don't want to subsidize tobacco use in my state. We should have just enough to break even. For next year, we would have to raise the tobacco tax by about 50 cents per pack -- just to break even."
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.
"We're such a fat country, by and large. Somebody needs to do something, or our Medicaid and Medicare costs are just going to continue to go up and up, not just because of smoking, but because of people being overweight and too lethargic to take their butts outside and walk," said Welsch.
Kauffman noted that smoking is not good for your health but insisted that 911 calls are not the answer.
"Smoking has been proven to be bad for one's health," she said. "But I really think that sometimes, these people go a little bit too far. It is a trend, but this is different because not only is it a trend where they're saying 'no smoking,' but now they're asking people to actually phone in and report other people."
Edgar Friendly - A true American!
Could be a FReeper.
"Why would a smoker chose to smoke in a smoke free zone?"
Years ago, before smoking in public places in Florida became illegal, I would often find myself in the non-smoking section of the mall food court--surrounded by people smoking. Aggravating as hell. The right to smoke is like the right to urinate--everyone has the right to do it--but not on my leg.
So ratting is still encouraged, but the manner has been changed slightly.
You also forgot to mention a complete waste of space for 911.
I'm not a smoker, but these anti-smoking laws drive me up the wall. I can't stand the micro-managing of our lives these hysterical groups push, because they never end... And I swear their ranting and raving about it all makes me want to take up smoking. LOL
Perhaps non-smokers in smoking areas should be turned in, that way the authorities get a chance to fine everyone. What could be fairer than that?
This is abuse of public monies.
LOL
Yeah, it's the 14th Amendment "Equal Protection" clause, I think!
" I want to run through the streets naked with green jello all over my body "
OMG! I've had that same fantasy!!! <:-O
I sure hope there's a shoot to kill order. Um/sarc.
I knew you were smart enough to get it.
oh, I am a non-smoker and exposure to smoke gives me a horrid headache and inflames my sinuses.......(right, Gabz?), but I don't think this campaign to outlaw smoking is good for the country. - -I would probably be one of those who would give pause to someone about to light up......but virtual smoke doesn't bother me. ;^)
" "Fatso spotted walking North on 8th Avenue." "
I resemble that remark! ;o)
No one has the right to a perfect environment, that's why we have legs.
Citizen's Arrest....Citizen's Arrest !
Wow! I'm glad a smoker didn't call 911 when I was standing in the smoking section. He just stood downwind of me, so the smoke would go in the other direction. I felt silly when I looked up and noticed the Smoking Area sign. I have noticed most smokers will go out of their way not to get smoke into people's faces. When they do they are often not away of it. There are very few who are jerks about it. I have seen more people rudely using foul language (noise pollution?) around small children than I have seen smokers practically puffing in people's faces. For this and for the case of freedom I will go against any ant-smoking initiatives. /rant off
Yes, but the law is the law. Do you decide to obey some laws and NOT obey others just because you don't like them? That sounds like a liberal attitude.
BTW, this was originally passed in Omaha about 6 years ago. It was passed just before an election and was passed along with a "living wage" Ordinance. The election came around 2 or 3 months later and all but ONE of the people who voted for them were bounced out of office. The new Councilmembers (or Clown-cilmembers as I like to call them) immediately reversed both the smoking ban and the living wage ordinance.
It looks to me like the present people have forgotten how they got in office (one problem is that the anti-smoking people have been blowing in their ears for 6 years and the rest of the people have been silent) and/or they hope that people will forget how they voted in two years (my guess is that they are probably right on that).
"Enviroment" is such a nice liberal word.
ML/NJ
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