The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed legislation Monday that bans smoking in bars and restaurants in Virginia, a state that first traded in tobacco nearly four centuries ago.
The ban takes effect Dec. 1 and covers just about any public place people would eat or drink. A restaurant, under the law, can offer a smoking section only if that area is walled off and has its own ventilation. Private clubs are exempt.
Kaine and an entourage of state senators and delegates came to Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, whose owner made it smoke-free two years ago, to sign the bill. Along one wall of the restaurant, a lectern with the state seal faced people in rows of wooden chairs. Other people leaned on a wall between the bar and dining room, and video cameras from TV stations lined the back.
“We’re not here by accident,” Kaine said before signing. “Why we’re signing this bill here at Croc’s is Virginia Beach restaurants’ leadership on this effort. The statewide association went wild about this, but the Virginia Beach restaurants were very cooperative.”
Croc’s owner, Laura Wood Habr , said the reason the restaurant went smoke-free was its workers.
“We don’t want them working with chemicals that are bad,” she said of the staff, “so why would we want them breathing air that is bad?”
Kaine said his first hint that the state might be ready for the smoking legislation was when he signed an executive order in 2006 banning smoking in state buildings and vehicles. He didn’t hear one complaint, he said.
He introduced, then credited Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, for his leadership in getting the bill out of committee.
“In the past, the committees have been where these bills have taken on water and sunk,” Kaine said.
Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, said public sentiment had clearly shifted in favor of smoking restrictions.
“In talking to people at the grocery store and post office,” Cosgrove said, “even the most hard-core Republicans in Chesapeake said, 'John, when are we going to do something about smoking?’”
Dr. Tom Eppes, president of the Medical Society of Virginia, stood behind Kaine at the event.
“The big knock in pediatrics,” Eppes said, “is children exposed to second-hand smoke get sick at twice the rate.”
When it was time to sign the bill, Kaine explained the process to the non-Capit ol crowd: “The way we like to do this is,” he said, “first, everyone look on with fascination.”
He signed.
“And next,” Kaine said, “everyone look up and smile.”
Those gathered broke out clapping.
Lon Wagner, (757) 222-5119, lon.wagner@pilotonline.com
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Smoking Ban - return my cigarette tax
So, in the states that are banning smoking going to stop taxing cigarettes? The concept of increasing cigarette tax was to pay for the ill health effects and the cost associated with smoking. Again, will the states that ban smoking in public places end the taxing of cigarettes?
smoking at Bingo
I don't understand why bingo places don't have to abide by this law. They say they are exempt because they are a private club. The buildings are public buildings. The members of Post 242 American Legion are club members but what about the public that comes in to play. They are subjected to second hand smoke. This is not fair. Some of the Legions are going by the law but post 242 decided not to. Can anything be done about this? I enjoy bingo so much at this location and really don't want to give it up, but its killing me. When the Gov signed the bill I and a lot of us were so happy, but once again it's not for everyone. Just select ones. Disapointed again by the system.
Smoking Ban By Far Is Wrong
First of all I Have seen a breath of fresh air spelled out alot here lately, well when you go out side you still will be breathing smoke more now than ever with this ban,how can it be a breath of fresh air yea i'm a smoker,i'm 44 years young, I have lung proplems no one gave it to me but myself everyone on earth was born to die with something some time or another it will come to us all with something someday, I agree that non smokers shouldn't have to be around smoke but there's only one way to not be around it and it's not just banning smoking from public places, if so many people feels like smoking is that bad smoking should be banned out right make tobacco illegal period, don't take money from tobacco companys and citizans for something they pay for then put them out in the cold weather while the people that don't pay sits in the resturants or bars where its warm and cozy and having the non smokers say you wanted to be outside or you wouldn't be smoking I feel like we pay to smoke more was than one in this world but we still don't have rights to smoke where business owners should have the right to say there business is smoking or non smoking or both, and businesses shouldn't hav
Being a business owner in VA Beach (why bother)
Thankyou Patriot for all of your comments, its nice to know someone really gets the whole picture here.
Oh and the Health Department will the ones to police this. So now our tax dollars will go to pay overtime for city employees. WOW!!
Kate-Cancer-Taxes
Kate, you can enjoy the freedom from smokers not being able to do what they like..at the cost of our tax dollars being shrunk..so I volunteer you to pay any and all additional taxes that they will impose upon me to appease your self righteousness. I promise you, when the hammer comes down and you get taxed 40-45% of your income to cover these multi-million dollar tax losses...that you will be the first to get the messege..imposing ones will on another to the detriment of the masses will be YOUR downfall for then the imposing will be upon you by the taxations! Cancer is not CAUSED by smoking, it is caused by the chemicals one sucks IN! It affects some NOT ALL in this way otherwise we would ALL be walking around cancerous...when you see these little children in the cancer ward with bone cancer, liver cancer, and a few other hundreds of cancers taking their life they are smokers by your description??? That is one really rediculous argument..otherwise, babies and children would NEVER get cancer for they don't smoke when living in a smoke free environment, but they do!
love2kids
Most/many people agree with you.Interesting that you mentioned caffeine.Recently 2 studies on it came out 1 day after the other.1 found that caffeine could be linked to a greater tendency to hallucinate.The other found that it may prevent dementia.
love2kids
I am impressed you love your kids so much that you share it with everyone in your name. Bravo! However, owning and working in a bar where 96% of your customers smoke (and most likely you, too) is not really insuring the well being of your kids, is it?
smoking ban
Ok look! It should be up to the people, if you don't smoke don't go where smoking is allowed. You should be able to make an adult decision on where you go. If you don't smoke and you open the door to a place where smoking is allowed, turn around and leave. Why does the goverment have to make that decision for you. And to end, why am I still allowed to sell cigarettes in my bar. It's still all CRAZY to me!!
"There are many falsehoods
"There are many falsehoods presented here by the anti-smokers. No statistical risk has been found from secondhand smoke(or more correctly environmental tobacco smoke"
During the 9-11 tragedy I emailed every news station I could think of to let them know those people in immediate area of the dust were in grave danger, they needed respirators and not those inadequate medical masks. So the next day I see on the news a EPA team testing the area for ASBESTOS, they said the air was safe. How inept, it was the small particulate glass, metal, drywall etc. that were the real concern for lung damage. Guess what, people have died and many are sick and debilitated to this day. So don't blow your poisonous smoke in my face, you may suffer more than I.
vabeachnative
I hardly think I am better than anyone else. Though I may come across as too judgemental on the smoking issue, basically I am so accepting of people that co-workers would laugh at me and tell others it doesn't matter if Kate says she likes so and so, she likes everybody! So you're really quite wrong about me. The christian concept and lowercase god is accurate. One does not need be a christian to find the best in others and appreciate the world around them. I have asthma, runs in the family thanks most likely to parents smoking in crowded car during winter w/ windows rolled up. Smoking is simply an unnecessary evil. Absolutely NO good in the product at all. Maryland (I had always thought Va. more progressive) is talking about banning smoking in cars w/ children. As you know others States are also discussing it. Smoking should be obliterated entirely!