Jan 29, 2008 12:07 pm US/Central
Bar First To Be Cited Under New Smoking Ban
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Michael Trzaska is lucky neither he nor anyone else had to dig in their
pockets after the Logan Square bar he co-owns earned the dubious
distinction of being first Chicago establishment found in violation of
the state's new smoking ban.
A city inspector saw two patrons at
Helen's Two Way Lounge light up on Jan. 20 and wrote the bar up, but
because the state law makes it difficult to write a ticket locally,
Trzaska got off on a technicality, Chicago Health Department spokesman
Tim Hadac said Monday.
A new city ordinance, expected to be
approved by the City Council in a few weeks, will enable the city to
enforce the statewide law, which calls for a $250 fine for the first
violation, $500 for the second violation and $2,500 for each violation
thereafter within a 12-month period, Hadac said.
Since the smoking ban took effect on Jan. 1, Hadac said the city has received roughly 150 reports of violations.
Helen's
Two Way Lounge, at 2928 W. Fullerton, is the first bar or restaurant
that was inspected. The 41-year-old lounge racked up three complaints,
earning a visit from officials, Hadac said.
Hadac said the law
is designed to push business owners to comply, which Helen's Two Way
Lounge did by asking the patrons who were breaking the law a few days
ago to stub out the cigarettes.
"The bottom line is that the law worked," Hadac said.
Trzaska,
54, said he has always been diligent in keeping cigarettes out of the
bar, but with the city's eyes on him, he'll be even stricter and escort
patrons out if they don't want to follow the rules.
"We try to
curb it, but there'll always be somebody who doesn't listen," he said.
"It's very difficult. . . . We're not the police."
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(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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