Restraunt Fights Smoking Ban in Tampa, FL

Tampa Tribune ^ | 07.30.03 | TOM BRENNAN

[Beck_isright]

Citation Lands In Grandma's Kitchen

By TOM BRENNAN

EAST TAMPA - State officials Tuesday cited a truck-stop restaurant for ignoring the smoking ban, but the owners say they will still let customers light up even if it means being fined.

Agents from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued a warning Tuesday afternoon at Grandma's Kitchen, part of the Citgo truck stop at 6503 U.S. 301.

State officials told the owners they were acting on a citizen's complaint filed July 25. But co-owner Wava Saunders said she thinks the state was spurred to action by an article published Tuesday morning in The Tampa Tribune about the decision to disregard the smoking ban.

``We knew it was coming,'' Saunders said. ``But someone had to stand up against this thing.''

Saunders vowed not to snuff out customers' right to smoke without a fight.

``I'm mad now,'' she said. ``We're going to hang in there until the last resort.''

Officials with the regulatory agency could not be reached for comment.

Saunders and her husband, John, have refused to enforce the statewide smoking ban since it went into effect July 1. They say it would kill their business because the vast majority of customers are truckers who smoke.

Most of the customers interviewed Monday said they drove miles out of their way to eat where they could also light up.

The Saunderses have 30 days to comply with the smoking ban. If they don't, they face a fine of $250 to $750 for the first offense. Fines for subsequent violations could range from $500 to $2,000.

[Beck_isright]

And I'm sure the anti-smoking Nazis are just going there daily to eat.

[Beck_isright]

FYI and since I don't have all the names on the smoking ping list...

Also, they are accepting contributions. I'll be eating there next week and giving what I can to them when I head up to Tampa on business. It's time to fight these Nazis, once and for all.

[small_l_libertarian]

I live in Tampa. I'm out of town until next Tuesday, but I'll go eat there when I get back. Good for them!

[Beck_isright]

I live way, way down south. But I'm coming to Tampa next week on business. I'm making it a point to go eat with all the truckers and drop a $10 or $20 into the till for them!

[livius]

¡Por favor! This is too stupid for words. The anti-smoking Nazis can go dine elsewhere. Like in the middle of the bay...

[Lexington Green]

Up against the wall, Granny!
The Nico-Nazis are coming.
In their jackboots they are coming.
Hurt you they will.

[Drew68]

Ping to the Puff List for smoking related articles.

[oldtimer]

We were in Der Gestopo Republic of Arlington TX last night in a suite with an outdoor deck watching the Texas Rangers getting the clinton kicked out of them, and I enjoyed blowing smoke at the signs that said NO SMOKING. So did others iin our group

When exiting we mentioned the fact to the Security Gaurd downstairs, and she told us that it was good that nobody complained.

Cost us $8 to park, and I hated to leave that money in Arlington TX, and don't ask me how many times we have had dinner in Dallas since the lib Mayor and Council passed their "Ordinance".

[freeforall]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/953118/posts?page=9#9
Smoking bylaw charges laid

Four London(Ontario, Canada) bars and restaurants are the first city businesses to be issued tickets.

"It's their responsibility to make sure no one is smoking on their premises," Albanese said.

[Freedom4US]

I'm really amazed that the latest incarnation of anti-tobacco fascism sweeping the country hasn't been tested in court, the "right" to a safe work environment is just so much legalistic masturbation if everyone involved smokes.

Or, alternatively, declare a restaurant a "club" with a nominal membership fee or somesuch. Clearly, these laws cannot stand, unless the ultimate logical extension of the legislation is to declare tobacco illegal. Either outlaw it, or leave everyone alone, simple as that. In case anyone hasn't noticed, the hard left has enacted breathtaking, sweeping social changes in this country in the last ten years without benefit of the democratic process whatsoever. And they call themselves liberals, progressives - be very afraid.

[ml/nj]

Let's ban bowling.

ML/NJ

[Beck_isright]

Liberal is just a fancy way of saying "communist". Remember that!

[TSgt]

I wish all restraunts were non-smoking.

I loath smoking. Can't people not smoke for an hour while everyone eats?

Okay, bring on the flames ;)

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I loath smoking. Can't people not smoke for an hour while everyone eats?

Can't you put up with smoke for an hour rather than ask everyone else to cater to you?

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Go Grandma Go!

[wcbtinman]

I realize that the state is fining the restaurant, but this will more than directly affect the truckers.

The state had better be careful here. The truckers bring them their groceries.

They may decide not to.

[Beck_isright]

"I wish all restraunts were non-smoking."

I wish that when I took a dump, it would all come out in $20 bills.

"I loath smoking. Can't people not smoke for an hour while everyone eats?"

First, how many truckstops do you eat at? Second, at what point did any business owner put a gun in your face and force you to go inside?

"Okay, bring on the flames ;)"

Flames, nah. Would rather you just crawl back into your government dependency related DU hole.

[Beck_isright]

I'm on their side. This law is idiotic. But you'll never convince an anti-smoking nazi.

[marron]

I don't smoke, but I hate the anti-smoke mentality. One of the reasons I enjoy traveling outside the US is precisely that you get to escape this kind of nonsense. Americans pride themselves on living in a free country, and then bind themselves with this kind of PC baloney. Its a sad state of affairs when you can be more free, in the daily details of living, outside the US than inside it.

Examples are of course the smoking laws, the neighborhood rules prohibiting you from working on your car or painting your house the color of your choice, the endless hoops necessary to start even the simplest business.

I love living in a place where the bank teller has a cigarrette hanging from his lip while he counts out your money, as does the waiter taking your order; the cop who approaches you to tell you that drinking is illegal on the beach gratefully shares a beer with you before going on his way, where every stupid rule man can devise has a back door built into it.

Things are changing, even in the third world, I have increasingly run into places with no-smoking sections, but they are still the exception. In most of these places, regardless of the written law, custom still holds sway in most cases. People just do what they have always done, and when the man comes around to complain, they just pay him to go away. Its so elegantly simple.

Obviously these places are not paradise, or their people wouldn't be lining up at the docks to board the next smugglers boat headed north. But living there, on the economy, for a few months or years will certainly give you a different view of the state of freedom in the US upon your return. Safer, cleaner, simpler in some ways, absolutely, but freer, it depends.

[Tunehead54]

Jes' wonderin' ... What if all the US smokers were to take a month off from restaurants, bars, MALLS, stores, etc. that do not appreciate our bidness?

---

I believe there'd be a 30% decline in business revenues and an equal decline in tax receipts. I wish I only smoked a couple a day and I'm trying to quit just to spite the "sin" tax beneficiaries but I'd love to shove their sensitivities where the sun don't shine.