Nye County Update
Nye County not enforcing smoking law
Dec 8, 2006
Cigarettes are supposed to be off the menu in all other parts of the state besides Clark County. But it seems a decision made in Las Vegas to postpone its enactment is influencing officials elsewhere.
News 3’s Angela Martin went to Pahrump in Nye County to see how this law is taking effect. However, she found that the sheriff there is not enforcing the law.
News 3 spoke with someone in the Nye County Sheriff’s Department and was told they are not enforcing the non-smoking law because of what happened in Clark County, even though the temporary restraining order does not apply there.
But there are some restaurants in town that got rid of their ashtrays anyway. For instance, you can no longer enjoy a side of cigarettes with lunch at McCaw’s Mountainview Casino.
Clark County smokers are still lighting up in restaurants after a judge issued a restraining order blocking the law, but in Pahrump signs letting customers know there’s no more smoking in Nye County restaurants went up Friday morning.
The signs read “Due to the loss of your American rights, you no longer have the freedom to smoke in this establishment.” They spell out how casino management feels about the new law.
Even though the sheriff in Nye County is not enforcing the new law, the Mountainview Casino’s manager says she will still force her customers to comply with the law even though she doesn’t agree with it.
The Nye County Sheriff’s Department says it’s waiting to see what happens in Clark County before deciding whether it will enforce the law. Washoe County is also waiting before ticketing anyone for breaking the new law.
In less than two weeks, the same judge that delayed the law in Clark County will decide if it’s unconstitutional.
