Thursday, February 12 2009
By Bob Hartford (
ArgusLeader.com)
Buzz up! South Dakota has a smoking ban. The Legislature implemented this ban in 2002, and it eliminated smoking in all public places and places of employment.
Exceptions to the ban were given for bars, smoke shops, video lottery establishments, Deadwood casinos and designated smoking rooms in hotels. This ban has removed smoking from almost all public places and has exemptions for adult-only venues.
While more than 30 states, including South Dakota, have smoking bans, not one state has a ban with zero exceptions. If passed, HB1240 would make South Dakota the only state in the country to have a total statewide ban.
Secondhand smoke has been in the news lately, and it was interesting to note the remarks from Jerry Steinley, editorial page editor of the Rapid City Journal, in the Jan. 23 edition.
Pro-Con: Ban would cause businesses to lose revenue continues...
