Smoking Ban Delayed

[Steve]

Smoking Ban Delayed

A new law that would’ve banned smoking in all restaurants, many smaller casinos, convenience stores, and other locations has been put on hold by a judge after a lawsuit was filed suggesting it was unconstitutional. The law was supposed to go into effect on Friday, December 8, but the judge’s temporary restraining order means that won’t happen until after a hearing later in December.

This particular law would most likely never be noticed by most Las Vegas visitors since large casinos and most bars and nightclubs are exempt, however it does cover the restaurants in the major casinos. Many restaurants had already gone no-smoking of their own volition but this law would force all of them, including buffets, to remove the ashtrays even in their lounge/bar areas.
(From: www.vegas4visitors.com)

[STR8 FLUSH]

LAS VEGAS - A judge on Thursday granted a 15-day restraining order to block a new ban on smoking at some bars and around the slot machines at supermarkets, gas stations and convenience stores in southern Nevada.
Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon said Thursday that there was a reasonable likelihood that a group of business owners could persuade him that the voter-approved ban, to take effect on Friday, was unconstitutional.

"This is not an issue of my telling the voters their vote is wrong. It's an issue of the constitutionality of the law they voted on," Herndon said.

A hearing on the law was set for Dec. 19.

Nevada voters approved the ballot measure last month, coming as a surprise to many in the home of all-night casino gambling, on-the-house booze and legalized prostitution. The smoking ban would not affect gambling areas of casinos.

The business group filed suit Tuesday asking for an injunction and a restraining order to keep police in the southern part of the state from enforcing the law, claiming it was unconstitutional, too vague to comply with, and unfairly discriminated against some businesses.

The law can technically be enforced in northern Nevada, though it was unclear Thursday whether it would go forward.

In the northeastern part of the state, Elko County Sheriff Neil Harris said he wanted more information before he enforces the new law.

If a smoker lights up in a restaurant, "we're not going to do anything with it, we need more direction from the attorney general or the district attorney before we can enforce it," Harris said

[magicfish]

Leaving for Vegas tomorrow ....disappointed

[Y2J2006]

I have never been a smoker and so it does not bother me. When i was in the Stardust, Riviera and Sahara my eyes were burning quite a bit when I was in there for a while. Thought it was my eyes being dry but realized it was the smoke and poor ventilation. But hey I could careless about secondhand smoke these days, if I am ging to Vegas I have no choice, c'est la vie. As I say here in Toronto where smoking is banned in all public places, restaurants and bars. I will die from pollution anyhow so who cares about secondhand smoke. Ever been here in July and August and even February? Smog alerts all the time.
So I would rather put up with breathing in the smoke from smokers in casinos than the smog here in the city of Toronto