i think the fine for dropping them on the ground is GREAT. you fine people for littering....this is littering in my book.

I don't smoke and never have. That being said, it makes me nervous that we can start passing laws telling people what they can and can't do. If I don't like smoking, I can just refuse to frequent a restraunt that allows it and if enough people do that, they would have smoke free restraunts. In that case, the market would decide things. Whole different thing than allowing the government to say what we can and can't do. You do realize, next it will be illegal to go to McDonalds because we all aren't smart enough to decide what we can and can't eat and the list goes on. Do you really want to live in a country where the government tells you what you can and can't do? I find that a little scary no matter how much I hate smoking and the effects it has on people.

We are a "no smoking" city. There is no smoking in any public building or business. However, many restaurants have added outdoor seating. It is very nice because there is not spill-over from the smoking areas. Some places have also banned any smoking on their entire property which means that you don't have to walk through the smokers to get to the front door.;)

No smoking law here includes restaurants, bars, any public place. Also there is no smoking on the grounds of a hospital and schools (includes parking lots)

well, the government has always told us what we can and can't do in so many aspects of life. I personally think it is great that they are recognizing that second hand smoke is extremely dangerous and are doing what they can to protect the people that they govern. I'm sure it isn't just one guy sitting on the panel that says "heck...let's ban smoking in restaurants...we have nothing better to do". I'm sure it comes from many many requests and such. If the government just allowed us to go and shoot whoever we wanted to shoot...because we were addicted to guns, then....we would not be ok. but obviously they have banned that :) i'm not trying to compare guns to smoking...but it is just an example of how the government bans certain things to protect the general public. they are not making it illegal to smoke...if you want to smoke...step outside...or go where it is allowed. i wouldn't allow people to smoke in my house...they would have to step outside. that is all you have to do in a restaurant...step outside..or go somewhere where it is allowed. it's really not that big of a deal....and most of the people that smoke that i know are ok with being courteous to non-smokers. they are aware of the health risks and can respect someone not wanting it around them.

I know not many people would agree w/ me, but I'd like to see alcohol banned from most places. I know people die from second-hand smoke, but that's usually after repeat exposure. People die a lot quicker from a first time exposure to a drunk driver. Just my opinion.

i understand where you are coming from.

my daughter, for one, gets extremely sick from second hand smoke. she loses her voice, gets congested, and coughs a lot. IMO...if it affects her that quickly just being exposed to it, i am scared to know what it can/will do to her long term. very scary. it's these kinds of things we need to think about when considering a ban on public smoking. if you want to smoke, that is certainly your choice...but it isn't our choice. so you really shouldn't be able to do it around us when we are simply trying to enjoy a nice meal out.

i know lots of people that smoke...and i love them just the same...so i am not a smoker-hater LOL like i said...it is your choice. much love to everyone LOL

Oh, I totally understand not wanting people smoking around you. I do smoke, but only outside on my back deck & never in the car when my girls are with me. Just because I expose myself to the chemicals doesn't mean I want my girls exposed to them. We won't eat in a smoky restaurant with them either. A lot of restaurants are now smoke free around here, several of the cities have passed laws that you can't smoke in restaurants, bars, public buildings, government buildings, etc. For some reason my city hasn't, it's come up several times but it keeps getting voted down. I live in Hamilton County, IN and it's one of the richest counties in IN (I'm not rich, I just live here! lol) so it's hard to understand how the law hasn't been passed here yet. I also heard from someone in KY that it's illegal to smoke in your car. I can't figure that one out, and it seems like it would be hard to catch people doing it.

And, I do drink occasionally but not often. My cousin was in an accident w/ a drunk driver when he was 18 and he was in a coma for a while. It was a very scary time and it makes you think about things. If I want to drink I make sure I'm not driving and if I am driving I just don't drink. Since I drink so rarely I can tell a difference in my reaction time with just one drink. It's just not worth taking the chance, plus it's so stinkin' expensive to drink at a restaurant!

No laws in Michigan yet. Just the normal not on hospital grounds...not in airports....stuff like that.

I so agree. People that are all for this and voting must realize it won't stop here.. it will continue and the next thing that is taken away may be something.. you like or enjoy.

First seatbelts made madatory, now smoking.. next drinking or driving an SUV who knows.. when we allow them to take our rights away it will continue.

i am a smoker, been a smoker for years and don't plan to stop smoking, i do like some resturants that have no smoking for when we take out our 6 month old out with us, they tried to pass that law in Pa, but we fought it, especially Pittsburgh did. good for them, i say !!!! - some places are non smoking and the bars and clubs you can still smoke in them, i have to admit the non smoking places i go to such as malls etc. i still smoke in the bathrooms.... hey i needed a cig. couldn't help it.... :D

I'm delighted that smoking bans are being enforced in public places....I certainly won't lose any sleep over "what's the next ban" going to consist of...

If smokers had to sit in a sealed plastic bubble to smoke when in public places then I wouldn't mind if they removed the ban....

why not just go outside to smoke?

The way I view it.......the government is not banning smoking altogether--just in public places. Sorta like how the government doesn't ban owning guns--just can't bring it on airplanes. Or drinking alcohol---you can drink--you just can't drink and then drive. IMO, it isn't a ban, it is just a restriction due to public saftety. I feel pretty confident the government is not going to ban McDonald's or tell me what type car I can drive. JMO

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