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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — There can be no butts about it.
At least, no cigarettes near business entrances. Two people were cited for inhaling burning tobacco within 15 feet of downtown bar doorways early Monday morning in Glenwood Springs. The citations suggest police are stepping up enforcement of the indoor smoking ban. There have been three Glenwood Springs citations since the indoor smoking ban took effect last July.
"We haven't had the staffing to do it on as consistent and proactive a basis as people would like us to," Police Chief Terry Wilson said. He's instructed his officers to look into the issue more if they have time, although it's not exactly the number-one crime police hope to stop. Some citizens have been vocal about wanting police to enforce the ban.
"We have a few people that have been distinctly aggressive in their desire to enforce that issue," Wilson said.
Police cited two men for smoking near the entrances of the Springs Bar and Doc Holliday's Saloon around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Christopher Quillman Boas, 21, and William Wayne Johnson, 22, were cited for smoking within 15 feet of a business entryway.
Boas said there were more than 10 people outside smoking, but he was the only one ticketed. Police could have ticketed Johnson after Boas left.
"I was amazed when he came up and gave me a ticket," Boas said. "These cops, they've got nothing better to do."
Boas said he didn't feel he was singled out for any reason.
"I was just the first one that he saw," Boas said.
Lisa Bunker, a bartender at the Springs Bar, said that according to others who worked that night, police officers had come by and warned people not to smoke near the entrances multiple times. A bartender warned several patrons leaving the bar not to light up.
She said police also had warned bartenders they could be ticketed if they didn't prevent people from smoking within 15 feet of the entrances. That would be pretty much impossible for a busy bartender, so the Springs posted no smoking signs in an effort to comply, Bunker said.
Contact Pete Fowler: 945-8515, ext. 16611
pfowler@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
At least, no cigarettes near business entrances. Two people were cited for inhaling burning tobacco within 15 feet of downtown bar doorways early Monday morning in Glenwood Springs. The citations suggest police are stepping up enforcement of the indoor smoking ban. There have been three Glenwood Springs citations since the indoor smoking ban took effect last July.
"We haven't had the staffing to do it on as consistent and proactive a basis as people would like us to," Police Chief Terry Wilson said. He's instructed his officers to look into the issue more if they have time, although it's not exactly the number-one crime police hope to stop. Some citizens have been vocal about wanting police to enforce the ban.
"We have a few people that have been distinctly aggressive in their desire to enforce that issue," Wilson said.
Police cited two men for smoking near the entrances of the Springs Bar and Doc Holliday's Saloon around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Christopher Quillman Boas, 21, and William Wayne Johnson, 22, were cited for smoking within 15 feet of a business entryway.
Boas said there were more than 10 people outside smoking, but he was the only one ticketed. Police could have ticketed Johnson after Boas left.
"I was amazed when he came up and gave me a ticket," Boas said. "These cops, they've got nothing better to do."
Boas said he didn't feel he was singled out for any reason.
"I was just the first one that he saw," Boas said.
Lisa Bunker, a bartender at the Springs Bar, said that according to others who worked that night, police officers had come by and warned people not to smoke near the entrances multiple times. A bartender warned several patrons leaving the bar not to light up.
She said police also had warned bartenders they could be ticketed if they didn't prevent people from smoking within 15 feet of the entrances. That would be pretty much impossible for a busy bartender, so the Springs posted no smoking signs in an effort to comply, Bunker said.
Contact Pete Fowler: 945-8515, ext. 16611
pfowler@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
