Smoking Ban Countdown is on in Illinois
By: Andy Schroeder
Updated: December 28, 2007
Illinois lawmakers are poised to ban almost all public smoking on January 1st, a move that has health officials cheering, but has also sparked plans for a public protest day. The ban is one of the most restrictive in the nation, allowing smoking in just a few places, including certain tobacco shops, private homes and nursing home rooms, and outdoors, so long as smokers stay 15 feet from the doorway of a building.
The Illinois law even goes so far as to ban smoking in all state owned vehicles.
Restaurant owner Mark Mobley, who runs Hadleys Cafe in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, says his operation went smoke free about 15 years ago, and hasnt suffered any ill effects at the cash register. Mobley says he is conflicted over laws limiting personal freedom, but thinks the state, its residents, and its businesses, will see this measure as a good move in short time.
"Its much ado about nothing," said Mobley, saying that residents will soon get used to eating, drinking, and working in a smoke free atmosphere.
Protestors, including those who have established a web site called illinoissmokersrights.com , think the ban is unfair, and plan to organize a state wide protest day.
