Freep This Poll - Smoking Ban Goes Into Effect Today

WFTV Orlando ^ | UPDATED: 6:37 a.m. EDT July 1, 2003 | www.wftv.com

[Tank-FL]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- No longer will smoking be allowed in Florida restaurants. Today, the new state law goes into effect banning smoking at restaurants and indoor work places.

Restaurants in Central Florida have been warning customers of the new law by placing stickers notifying them that, after Monday, they will no longer be able to light it up inside. Gov. Bush signed the new legislation that voters approved last November

[Just another Joe]

FReeped and bump

[Just another Joe]

Again, will you only uphold/support/enforce laws you happen to agree with?

That is correct. I will uphold and support a law that I agree with.
I will NOT enforce a law that I disagree, or agree, with. I am not a LEO.

It's called civil disobedience. If they want to ticket me for civil disobedience, so be it.
(Smoking? I didn't see anyone smoking occifer.)

That government is best which governs the least.
Thomas Jefferson

[Gabz]

Again, because it is a law, period.

But the law does not state that the public is REQUIRED to report violations. The rules created by the (supposed)enforcement agencies state they will only enforce upon a complaint basis.

[Gabz]

With pay phone in bars I see endless possibilities.

So do I - and it is scary.

[Trace21230]

If I were a restaurant owner and I had police showing up at my private establishment to issue smoking citations, could I require a warrant before permitting entry onto my property?

Trace

[Gabz]

The signs forbidding smoking are posted everywhere and are required by the law.

I have even more horror stories about the tactics being used to enforce this smoking ban that the business owners didn't want to begin with. It's horrible.

The businesses that wanted no-smoking had already done that on their own. there was no need to force the rest to do the same.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Throwing a brick through a window isn't a violent crime either. You're only hurting the window, not a human being.

[Great Dane]

If the ban is a law, is it not our duty to report the crime, or do we only enforce laws we agree with?

If you feel so inclined....... go for it, report all you want, but don't tell me what I should do, there are lots of laws broken every day....... no snoops to report it, is it only smoking bans you are soooo intent on having enforced.???

[Great Dane]

Tell me harry, do you report every j-walker you see, or every kid on a bike without his helmet, if so...... when do you get time to work. ???

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

True.

[HarryDunne]

do you report every j-walker you see

No. What's your point?

[Great Dane]

No. What's your point?

Now thats a silly question, you seem to suggest that if we don't report a smoker in a banned situation, we are all for breaking the law, how would that be different if you choose not to report other minor infractions. ???

[honeygrl]

"Throwing a brick through a window isn't a violent crime either. You're only hurting the window, not a human being. "

But you are vandalizing someone's property. Throwing a brick through a window sounds pretty violent to me.

[VermiciousKnid]

There isn't a snowball's chance in Hell that I would drop a dime on these restaurants.

In fact, I hope to see flounting of this idiotic law on a truly epic scale.

Regards,

[HarryDunne]

silly question
Lay off the insults and stick to the issue.

Obviously no one has the time to report every infraction. How is that even an option? I'm talking about the willingness to do so. The argument is about the ideal (ie. what should be done), not what we are capable of doing at any given moment.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

"Sounds pretty violent to me."

Only to the window. And if people can decide that throwing a brick or stone through a non-feeling window is worthy of some sort of punishment, then they can also decide to ban smoking in certain areas. If you really don't like this law, work to change it, like many others do on various issues.

Unless, of course, you no longer believe in the current government. In which case, my previous question still stands.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

So, what have you done to change this?

[Great Dane]

silly question Lay off the insults and stick to the issue. Obviously no one has the time to report every infraction. How is that even an option? I'm talking about the willingness to do so. The argument is about the ideal (ie. what should be done), not what we are capable of doing at any given moment.

How that qualifies as an insult, is beyond me, that be as it may, you are the one who suggest that we smokers are selective about which laws we like, couldn't the same be said about you........ that was my point, and you proved me right.

[Gabz]

I have done everything from writing to newspapers, legislators and other like minded folks. I've organized and participated in rallies. I've provided data to counter the propaganda of the pro-ban groups. I've helped expose some of the fraudulent activities of some of those groups.

And I have spent countless unpaid hours in the Delaware Capitol as well as on the phone and attending meetings at every chance I could.

And I have not even mentioned my campaign work.

In other words, I don't just complain about this issue on internet message boards. and I have been doing it for more than 10 years.

However it is very hard for a true grass roots group to accomplish a whole lot when the opposition has untold millions of dollars for mass media advertising and mailings.

In Florida alone the so-called charitable/research organizations such as the Cancer society and Lung Association spent more than $6 million pushing this smoking ban - and that include all they funding they provide to the anti-smoker organizations such as Smoke-free this or that.

[HarryDunne]

How that qualifies as an insult, is beyond me

Then I will explain. Calling my question "silly" is an insult. It tells me that you can't hold a reasonable argument without resorting to insults.

you are the one who suggest that we smokers are selective about which laws we like

What's this "we smokers" nonsense? Go back and re-read my posts. I never separated smokers from non-smokers.

As for me proving you're right, explain to me how.