Hernando Update
Smoking ban in Hernando has residents fired up
March 10, 2007
Smokers in Hernando, Mississippi are fired up over a proposed smoking ban in public buildings.
Hernando will join 125 other state or local governments that ban all smoking in restaurants, bars and other workplaces.
The ban was detailed in an eight-page ordinance listing all the places that, come Friday, will be smoke-free. The ban has some business owners and smokers fuming.
Teresa Pino is lighting up over lunch while she still can, because on Friday, it becomes illegal in Hernando.
Pino says that with the ban in effect she will probably go to Southaven more for lunch.
Despite how some feel about the ban, others are looking forward to eating in a smoke free environment.
“I wish the whole county would do it actually,” says Brandon Hylander.
The ordinance says you can’t smoke inside any building in Hernando, unless it’s a designated hotel room, or a private residence- provided your home doesn’t double as a daycare.
That means restaurants, offices, bars are all off limits.
For police, the ban means enforcement.
“We’re not going to go in with a lead food and put our food down we’re going to try to work with everybody and ease it into effect,” says Hernando Police Department Police Chief, Mike Riley.
Bar-owner, Howard Love says the smoking ban can’t be good for business.
“We will, we will lose business,” says Love.
And, for those who don’t obey, there are fines. For smokers, it’s up to 50-dollars for the first offense, and up to 250 after that.
But, for business owners like Love, the penalties are a little steeper.
“Mine’s $100 first offense, $200, $500, and next time they yank your license- that’s pretty steep,” says Love.
Hernando Police Chief Mike Riley says he doesn’t expect the ban to be a big problem, but his officers will begin issuing tickets this weekend.
