Councilwoman Revives Smoking Ban Proposal

INDIANAPOLIS -- The debate over whether smoking should be allowed in public places in Marion County is heating up again.

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Indianapolis City-County Councilwoman Beulah Coughenour is pushing an ordinance that would ban smoking in most public places in Marion County. Coughenour said no one should have to breathe secondhand smoke.

"We're not saying people can't smoke, but they can do it outside, or somewhere after they're in a public place," Coughenour said. "To not do this, to me, is just irresponsible."

The plan has been considered in various workshops and committees over the past few months, but an agreement was never reached, RTV6's Ericka Flye reported.

The newest version of the ordinance exempts "stand-alone bars," which are establishments that do not serve a large amount of food items.

Off-track betting facilities and private clubs and recreation facilities that do not serve the public or charge the public for services also would be exempt, Flye reported.

The leader of the Indiana Restaurant Association, John Livengood, is against the proposal. He said decisions on whether to remain smoke-free should be up to individual establishments.

"This is big government. This is government telling us what to do, and I don't like government telling us what to eat, what to drink, who we can socialize with," Livengood said. "I just think this is an unwarranted government intrusion into an area that they ought to stay out of."

Bartender Amanda Cook said she would prefer to work in a smoke-free environment, but understands it's part of her job.

"I'd like to go home at night and go to sleep and not smell like an ashtray, but then again, I know that I'm at a bar, and there's ashtrays, and they're going to be smoking, so I choose to deal with that," Cook said.

But others would like to see the ordinance implemented.

"As long as they're hurting themselves and not me, but they are hurting me, because secondhand smoke is very bad," Marion County resident Mary Jo Kennelly said.

Under the proposal, fines would range from $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense within a year, and $500 for each additional offense within a year.

A committee will discuss the proposal Tuesday. The full council is expected to vote Nov. 17.