Legal Smoking ban Loophole

[Half Live]

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=134196&provider=top



COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) - A Colorado Springs bar owner says he found a loophole in the statewide smoking ban by putting a tobacco shop inside his establishment.
http://www.9news.com/graphics/adlabel_horz.gif


Murray Street Darts now includes CJ's Tobacco Shop, and a judge has ruled that makes the tavern exempt from the ban.
Murray Street Darts owner Bruce Hicks says he complied with the smoking ban for about six months after it went into effect in 2006. But he says he lost so much business because that he decided to defy it.
He was repeatedly ticketed by police and fined, but he says he raised about $16,000 for legal fees with a donation jar and by charging patrons $1 to rent an ashtray.
He says having the tobacco shop means police no longer write him tickets.




Now I don't smoke cigarettes but I like to light up a cigar every once in while when hanging with friends and having a drink. Good times.

[d_striker]

This is no loophole nor a secret...

The state law says that a cigar-tobacco bar must generate "at least 5 percent or more of its total annual gross income or $50,000 in annual sales from the on-site sale of tobacco products and the rental of on-site humidors."

A bar can't simply sell $500 in cigarettes annually and expect to retain their exempt status.

You also can go to Rendezvous to smoke cigars. You can even bring your own there.

V-Bar or 15C charges you a certain amount to smoke your stogies in their establishment. I'm not sure if it's one or the other or both....I don't go to either of them.

[theGinsue]

I just quit smoking a month ago.

I think that businesses should not be told whether or not smoking can occur in their place of business. I do believe that if smoking is allowed in an establishment that it needs to be clearly posted at all entrances - to allow people to make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to be subjected to the smoke.

The same goes for employees. Any potential employee should be informed at the time of receiving the job offer about the smoking policy and have to sign a document indicating they have been informed and that they still choose to work for that employer, or else...no job.

If enough people DON'T want to do business with a business that allows smoking, the company will either have to ban smoking or go out of business. If customers wish to do business with an establishment that allows smoking, that should be between the customers and the business, NOT the government.

[TS12000]

I just quit smoking a month ago.

I think that businesses should not be told whether or not smoking can occur in their place of business. I do believe that if smoking is allowed in an establishment that it needs to be clearly posted at all entrances - to allow people to make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to be subjected to the smoke.

The same goes for employees. Any potential employee should be informed at the time of receiving the job offer about the smoking policy and have to sign a document indicating they have been informed and that they still choose to work for that employer, or else...no job.

If enough people DON'T want to do business with a business that allows smoking, the company will either have to ban smoking or go out of business. If customers wish to do business with an establishment that allows smoking, that should be between the customers and the business, NOT the government.

[Score] Preach on brother

[BigBear]

Ginsue, my friend.... your response is too rational and logical! We can not have that here. Remember Sir, we must rely and blindly obey what the goobermint tells us to do!!! If one person complains about smoke, NO ONE is ever allowed to smoke again!!! lol.

[sniper7]

I'm glad the guy defied the .gov. too much control over daily life is being seen by everyone now. It is amazing how much of your life is controlled by the .gov now if you step back and really take a look at it.

[MichiganMilitia]

I just quit smoking a month ago.

I think that businesses should not be told whether or not smoking can occur in their place of business. I do believe that if smoking is allowed in an establishment that it needs to be clearly posted at all entrances - to allow people to make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to be subjected to the smoke.

The same goes for employees. Any potential employee should be informed at the time of receiving the job offer about the smoking policy and have to sign a document indicating they have been informed and that they still choose to work for that employer, or else...no job.

If enough people DON'T want to do business with a business that allows smoking, the company will either have to ban smoking or go out of business. If customers wish to do business with an establishment that allows smoking, that should be between the customers and the business, NOT the government.

[Score] Preach on brother


+1000

[theGinsue]

Ginsue, my friend.... your response is too rational and logical! We can not have that here. Remember Sir, we must rely and blindly obey what the goobermint tells us to do!!! If one person complains about smoke, NO ONE is ever allowed to smoke again!!! lol.

You are quite right. I've called the Re-Education Center and they are sending a couple of gentlemen to escort me to be re-brainwash...er, educated.

[esaabye]

I just quit smoking a month ago.




Good for you, I am coming up on my 4 year anniversary. Well worth the effort to stop, I had forgotten what it felt like to be healthy.

[roberth]

I just quit smoking a month ago.

I think that businesses should not be told whether or not smoking can occur in their place of business. I do believe that if smoking is allowed in an establishment that it needs to be clearly posted at all entrances - to allow people to make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to be subjected to the smoke.

The same goes for employees. Any potential employee should be informed at the time of receiving the job offer about the smoking policy and have to sign a document indicating they have been informed and that they still choose to work for that employer, or else...no job.

If enough people DON'T want to do business with a business that allows smoking, the company will either have to ban smoking or go out of business. If customers wish to do business with an establishment that allows smoking, that should be between the customers and the business, NOT the government.

You are spot on. If a person doesn't like smoking, don't go in, simple as that. Stupid, fecking nanny state bullshit. [Rant1][Rant1][Rant1]

[GreenScoutII]

Yep. What Ginsue said.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[sniper7]

smoke em if you got em[Tooth]