Smoking Fine May Jump to $1,000 (Scranton, PA)

The Scranton Times-Tribune ^ | 1-11-07 | Stacy Brown

[Namyak]

Oh, how offended little Miss Fanucci gets when the plebians don't bow to her every whim. If only us little folk knew our place, the world would be better for it. This article is in response to a litany of print and television news stories where the business owners of Scranton told the city council to take a flying leap and that they would look the other way if their customers want to partake in a completely legal activity on private property. Of course, we can't have people ignoring the edicts of their betters, otherwise pretty soon people will begin to realize just how useless 90% of the laws on the books are. Better nip this expression of freedom in the bud as quickly as possible, hence the raising of the fine.

[dfwgator]

Barack Obama better stay out of Scranton.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

It seems like no matter how bad federal and state officials can be, local and county officials are often much worse in terms of abusing their power and shoving people around. Big fish in a small pond; or, less charitably, busybodies who, under the guise of "serving the community", use their offices to impose their will on the community.

[ml/nj]

Those who want to smoke must stay at least 20 feet from an establishment’s entrance.

This wouldn't be a problem for me. I usually go in where the TV's are.

ML/NJ

[GeorgiaDawg32]

people should have the absolute choice whether or not to allow smoking in their privately owned establishments..if you don't like the smoke, go elsewhere..plenty of places won't allow it..

I'm waiting for some city somewhere to legislate that all grocery stores MUST use discount cards so they can keep track of what you buy..for what you ask?? simple..it gives the insurance companies the info they need to determine whether or not you get health insurance.."We're sorry Mr. Smith, last month you bought chicken on several occasions that had skin on them, you bought whole milk instead of 2%, you bought too much pasta and bread..all those carbs are bad for you..we now deem you a risk for heart attack, insurance denied"..if it isn't here in some form by now, it's coming..

[L98Fiero]

"It seems like no matter how bad federal and state officials can be, local and county officials are often much worse in terms of abusing their power and shoving people around."

Indeed, they do. Try getting a school bus removed from the street in front of your house. It took me over a year.

[NativeSon]

I'm waiting for some city somewhere to legislate that all grocery stores MUST...

I use those cards all the time for the discounts but not one of them has any real info behind them.

There have been cases where a shopper's purchase history was used against them in slip'n'fall claim.

If you think that it can happen, it will...

[GeorgiaDawg32]

if it was used in a slip 'n fall (I've heard this too), then they DO have a purchase history..I never use those cards..it's no ones business what I buy but mine..

[NRA1995]

Breakin' the law, breakin' the law.......

[patton]

Property and building improvement taxes are increasing by about 25 percent. The tax rate will be 103.14 mills for land and 22.4 mills for buildings and improvements. A mill equals $1 for each $1,000 of assessed value.

10% per year property tax? Is that an error?

(eg, $60 000 tax per year on a $600 000 house?)

[albie]

...and there'll be a $50,000 fine if they smell trans-fats on your breath. ~sarc

[dighton]

Fines for violating Scranton’s new smoking ban could rise to as much as $1,000 if Scranton Councilwoman Sherry Nealon Fanucci has her way.

“Tell your friends I don’t want a lot. Just enough to wet my beak.”

[Emmett McCarthy]

I spent part of yesterday in Juvenile Court with my 16 year-old son because of a "curfew violation". Seems our Nashville Metro Council has decided they're in charge of what time my kid comes home. It wasn't even a school night, either. They've got a great racket going. If you plead guilty, we collect $120. If you plead not guilty, we find you guilty anyway and you pay $50 more. I figure they're bringing in nearly $6,000 a day. The cops are the "sales reps" dragging the net out on the street and, once you're in it, they WILL close the deal.

[groanup]

Oh, how offended little Miss Fanucci gets when the plebians don't bow to her every whim.

Why don't they make everything illegal? That way we can all be classified lawbreakers and go to their re-education camps.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Sounds like Chicago.

[albie]

10% per year property tax? Is that an error?

(eg, $60 000 tax per year on a $600 000 house?)


...bad math on your part. $22.40 per $1,000 assessed value equals about $11,000 per $500,000. That's assessed value.

[Emmett McCarthy]

I think it's every town. Make the ka-ching sound to fill up those government coffers. We're all criminals and they just take turns collecting an extra "tax" from us.

[patton]

Bad reading on your part -

The tax rate will be 103.14 mills for land

[albie]

More like wishful thinking on my part. They are seriously charging for the combination of land and buildings?

[D.P.Roberts]

I'll bet people ignored her in high school, too.