On May 30th, 2008, residents will not be able to smoke publicly because of the LB 395 that was signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman. Smoking will be banned on any indoor working place like restaurants, bars, keno game pubs and indoor public areas. It is surprising that even keno pubs are included on the ban because of the keno pubs reputation as an area of gambling where players can smoke while they are enjoying a game of keno.
Any violators will be fined five hundred dollars. The only indoor area that residents will be allowed to smoke includes twenty percent of the hotel rooms all over the state, tobacco retailers, which means that retailers that only sell tobacco. That does not include establishments that sell alcohol, coffee, carbonated beverage, candy and other stuff.
Other areas that are not included in the current ban are areas that study the effects of excessive smoking and residences. Smoking will not only be allowed in a private residence if it is being used as child caring facility. The LB 395 defines an enclosed area as a place enclosed by walls from ceiling to its four sides. The new law will be enforced on June 1st, 2008.
Date: [01-07]
As Reported by: Louis Blechdom
