Smoking Ban-Pool Room 1st Business Busted

Mike Templeton

Mike Templeton

Confidence........
Silver Member
Effective January 1 of this year, Greenville County, SC instituted a smoking ban on businesses in the city limits. Here is a story that was on the news last night about Palace Billiards being the first business to get busted for allowing smoking. Of course a pool room got busted first. This is a great room. The owner is hosting one of Shannon's Great Southern Tour stops March 31 and April 1.

http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/news.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2007-03-07-0013.html
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Greenville Police Cite First Business For Violating Smoking Ban

Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007 - 04:58 PM



It's lights out for one Greenville bar. The city has busted its first business for violating the new smoking ban.


Owner Michael Sijon appeared before a city judge Wednesday afternoon. Sijon owns Palace Billiards on Airview Drive in Greenville. After receiving some tips, undercover officers found the bar was allowing patrons to smoke inside.


Sijon says he was aware of the ordinance, but thought businesses were only receiving warnings. Instead of paying the $100 fine, the owner asked for a jury trial. He'll be back in court in May.



Mike
 
Last edited:
The smoking ban was the best thing that ever happend to the state of Washington. Now we can all live longer and play more pool for more years!
 
Luxury said:
The smoking ban was the best thing that ever happend to the state of Washington. Now we can all live longer and play more pool for more years!
Click to expand...
<smiles wryly>
 
From the article:

Owner Michael Sijon appeared before a city judge Wednesday afternoon. Sijon owns Palace Billiards on Airview Drive in Greenville. After receiving some tips, undercover officers found the bar was allowing patrons to smoke inside.
Click to expand...

So it seems some patrons tipped the cops off - probably some non-smokers who didn't like folks smoking in there after the ban was instituted. So the cops didn't target a pool hall - they went where they were told violations were occuring.

Full disclosure - I'm a non-smoker, I hate smoking, and I love my state's smoking ban. YAY LUNGS :D
 
***UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE***

WOW. I made the above post, and then was browsing 10 minutes later and ran across this. The smoking ban in Greenville County was just deemed uninforcable by a judge earlier today. This is a pretty weird turn of events.

http://www.wyff4.com/news/11193428/detail.html
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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Thursday afternoon, a judge ruled that Greenville's smoking ban is "invalid and unenforceable."

In a draft of his decision, Judge John Few moved to overturn the smoking ordinance that bans smoking in most public indoor places.

Mid-afternoon Thursday, the judge istened to attorneys' responses to the draft of the order. The decision will not be finalized until the judge signs and files the order. He is expected to file the order to overturn the ban before the end of the day.


The Greenville City Council passed the ordinance took affect on Jan. 1.

Soon after, a group of restaurant owners sued the city claiming the ban is unconstitutional.

Joe Owens, co-owner of Alley Gator on Pelham Road, is one of the business owners who is part of the lawsuit.

Owens said his business is down about 20 percent since the smoking ban. Those customers are going to businesses in Greenville County, which does not have a smoking ban.

"Since we are so close the county line people just have to get in their cars and just drive right through the redlight," Owens told WYFF News 4’s Erin Hartness.

Josh Beeby, owner of Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria in downtown Greenville, said he hasn't seen much of a change in business since the ban.

"I love it personally. I smoked for a long time and I've quit," Beeby said.

Still, Beeby said he would not rule out the possibility of making an area upstairs a smoking area if the ban is overturned.

Randall Hiller, the attorney representing the businesses, said that he believes the state's Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits local governments from passing a smoking ban.

He also said that local governments cannot make something illegal that the state hasn't made illegal. He said that if the judge agrees, Greenville ban would have to be lifted because it would not be legal.

Several other cities throughout the state have or are considering smoking bans.

Columbia and Hilton Head both recently passed bans.

The Clemson city smoking ban is up in the air. In January, the City Council decided to delay action on the ban. They're planning a work session to talk about it.

Bar owners in Charleston are suing to try stop that city's smoking ban from going into effect in July.


1st Smoking Citation Issued

Greenville police said that they have written the first citation against a business for allowing smoking since the city passed an anti-smoking ordinance.

Early Wednesday morning, undercover officers responded to complaints about Palace Billiards, located at 56 Airview Drive, selling alcohol after 2 a.m.

While investigating the allegation of after-hours drinking, undercover officers said that they saw eight to 10 patrons smoking inside the business. Undercover investigators said that they found numerous ashtrays on tables inside the business.

Officers said that their investigation determined that the business manager, Michael Louis Sijon, 45, was allowing patrons to smoke inside the business, which is located inside Greenville city limits. Undercover investigators asked Sijon if he knew about the new smoking ordinance and he said that he did.

Undercover officers said that they told Sijon that since he was allowing the patrons to smoke, he was written a citation for $100 and given a copy of the city ordinance.

Officers did not cite the patrons because they said they were smoking because the manager allowed them to.



Mike
 
ScottW said:
From the article:
So it seems some patrons tipped the cops off
Click to expand...

Mob voice on.....

"there's nothing lower than a rat"

Mob voice off....

:D
 
It's a private business. They paid for the building and they are targeting a market. You don't want to be around smokers......DON'T PATRONIZE SMOKING ESTABLISHMENTS!!!!

Why do we need big brother in every aspect of our lives. The risks of smoking is well documented. If you smoke or are around a smokey environment, chances are it's going to effect your health. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't know this? Free enterprise, if business falls off because no one wants to be in a smokey room, let the owner decide to change policy.
The law here in DE essentially puts the onus on the bartender to enforce the law. Bartenders aren't law enforcememnt officers and they aren't going to call a cop for someone smoking.
Next thing you know they'll start banning foods too..... oh wait that's already happening too. Pretty soon it will be Soylent Green for everyone....

A Fervent Non Tobacco User. (don't smoke, dip snuff, nor chew)

McCue Banger McCue
 
I own a room myself.

I pay the utilities, insurance, taxes, and about a hundred other bills that I try not to dwell on most of the time. If I make a business decision to eliminate smoking due to the wishes of my customer base that is one thing. But unless someone else wants to start kicking in on these bills, they need to butt out.

Vote with your money on this issue. Laws like this are a death sentance to many small businesses, not just pool halls.

<rant off>

DRawls
 
DelaWho??? said:
It's a private business. They paid for the building and they are targeting a market. You don't want to be around smokers......DON'T PATRONIZE SMOKING ESTABLISHMENTS!!!!
Click to expand...
**Standing Ovation**
I agree with you 100%! I've been saying the same thing for years.
I used to smoke but I was finally able to quit. I don't have a problem with people smoking around me. I don't mind going to a smokey poolhall or smoke-filled bar to hear a band. In fact,when my wife and I go out to eat we will often sit in the smoking section. Why,you ask? Well, to start with, the smoking section usually has the better seats (near the TV or bar), there is usually a long wait for a table in the smoking section and you have to sit in the middle of the room so everyone can see you (not very romantic in my opinion). The smoking section on the other hand is normally quiet because the non-smoking section is full of undisciplined children (that's a whole other thread to post on!) and overall it's less crowded.

I don't think the govt. should be allowed to tell people they can't smoke in a public place; the business owner should reserve that right.
 
I understand the Libertarian viewpoint of the government staying out of areas they don't belong, and I would agree with it in most sitations. However, on this issue I have to agree that I love smoking bans. There are no pool halls in Atlanta that ban smoking except for the ones where there is a law, so the argument that you can vote with your money is not valid. There is no other choice than to go to the smoke-filled pool halls if you want to play pool. Five years ago I would never have imagined being able to go to a pool hall and come home without reeking of cigarette smoke. Now that there are some counties that ban smoking, I can go out and play pool all night and not have to burn the clothes I wore. :D
 
Sounds like a huge business oprotunity for you bullit...simply open a pool hall in Atlanta that is non-smoking.All the non-smokers will be breaking youre doors down to get in.(I'd give it 3 months before youre flat broke)
 
I personally would drive double the distance that I drive to my current pool hall to go to a smoke free pool hall. Unfortunatly thats not even an option to me, there are only two halls that are in driving distance that I know of, and both are filled with clouds of smoke. I wish I could sneak off and play pool without the lady friend knowing, but thats not even an option because I return smelling so badly of smoke. :o
 
Room owners are not civil servants. We are not talking about hospitals or courthouses, or even grocery stores for that matter. You don't get drafted into the pool hall. Those that insist upon control of the environment of the location in which they play pool should be willing to foot the bill for that authority (open a room or stick a table in your house). Actually, a person that is really concerned with their health could pick a better sport than pool. Tennis, for instance, affords the opportunity for lots of fresh air.

I will say this: the best investment that I ever made in my business was a big 'ol HEPA filter. Maybe if these government officials are really concerned about this issue they could offer some substantial incentives for the installation of this sort of equipment. Mine cost over $1000 ten years ago, but I made the Business Decision to spend the money because I thought it would increase my profits.

If the profits are driven out of room operation the presence of cigarette smoke will be a small problem compared to a lack of tables on which to play.

I am sorry to come across as argumentative on this matter and I really do respect everyone's opinion. We all want what is best for our sport. It just bothers me when the government (an institution with a very dubious track record for financial responsibility gets involved in my business).

Shutting up now.

DRawls
 
drawls13 said:
I will say this: the best investment that I ever made in my business was a big 'ol HEPA filter.
Click to expand...

Just curious, what kind of business are you in?

drawls13 said:
Maybe if these government officials are really concerned about this issue they could offer some substantial incentives for the installation of this sort of equipment. Mine cost over $1000 ten years ago, but I made the Business Decision to spend the money because I thought it would increase my profits.
Click to expand...

I actually support the idea of government financial incentives to facilitate compliance to government regulations. It would certainly help slow the proliferation of new legislation.

Ironically, while anti-smoking laws are hurting certain businesses, the FedGov financed the hell out of those ridiculous rooftop solar water heaters in the late 70's. The shysters who sold them raised their prices proportionally, so that when the smoke cleared, the tax credits went directly to the vendors. Like we all really needed help with the cost of making water hot...

Ken
 
I'm an ex-smoker, so you know where this is going. When the ban first happened in NY I was really pissed. Since then I've been able to quit, as have many of my friends. Now I am so happy about it. I'll spare you all the pontifications and lectures....

I’ll just say that it is the way things are going to happen, if they haven’t happened yet in your area. It’s a pain at first, but it’s not all bad.
 
smoking

hello mike; Stick here, i had to stop smoking in my room as i came in and had a large amount of paper work from some goverment group in ga and said i had to comply. but i was in atlanta a few days ago at MR Q 2, and he allows smoking, i think over he in ga if you post no one onder the age of 18 allowed you can alow smoking STICK :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Mike Templeton said:
Effective January 1 of this year, Greenville County, SC instituted a smoking ban on businesses in the city limits. Here is a story that was on the news last night about Palace Billiards being the first business to get busted for allowing smoking. Of course a pool room got busted first. This is a great room. The owner is hosting one of Shannon's Great Southern Tour stops March 31 and April 1.

http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/news.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2007-03-07-0013.html
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Greenville Police Cite First Business For Violating Smoking Ban

Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007 - 04:58 PM



It's lights out for one Greenville bar. The city has busted its first business for violating the new smoking ban.


Owner Michael Sijon appeared before a city judge Wednesday afternoon. Sijon owns Palace Billiards on Airview Drive in Greenville. After receiving some tips, undercover officers found the bar was allowing patrons to smoke inside.


Sijon says he was aware of the ordinance, but thought businesses were only receiving warnings. Instead of paying the $100 fine, the owner asked for a jury trial. He'll be back in court in May.



Mike
Click to expand...

Hey Mike, I own a pool room in Lakewood, Washington near Tacoma. We have had a smoking Ban in place for more than a year. I currently do smoke, however, my room has been non-smoking since I opened it in September 2004.

The smoking ban has not hurt my business at all, due to the clientèle I have fostered since the beginning. While everyone, can complain and ***** this is really for the good of everyone in the long run. I also sell cues and other accessories, that would be effected by the stall smell of stale smoke.

This is just part of the challenge of owning a business, change can also be however. I truly believe that in a very short time there will be a National Smoking ban in place anyway, so this is only the beginning.
 
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