On June 18th, 2008, with an order from a judge, the smoking ban on indoor public areas of Omaha went into effect. But smokers and businesses should not fear because police officers will not immediately arrest or apprehend violators until the information is properly disseminated to all restaurants, bars and public offices about the new law.
But Omaha police spokesperson Lieutenant Darci Tierney commented that they will enforce the smoking ban at the business establishments that were previously exempted from the smoking ban, like keno bars and restaurants the same way that they did it with other business establishments in the state since 2006.
Individual violators of the ban will be fine $100 and businesses that will violate the ban will be fined $500. Douglas County District Judge John Hartigan, who originally approved of the partial smoking ban, decided to follow the order of the Nebraska state Supreme Court decision on the smoking ban on May 30th, 2008 and overturned the partial smoking ban.
Some residents like bartender Marty Digiacomo said that he is relieved that he will not have to work in a place that is filled with smoke. Some businesses in the area like the Horsemen's Park, Big Red Keno, the Beer and Loathing Bar in Dundee tried to overturn the decision of Judge Hartigan fearing a forty percent profit drop in their businesses because of the smoking ban.
John Sullivan
[30-06]
