How Many Cigarettes Are Non-Smokers Breathing Without Knowing It?
| This location | For this long | You've "smoked" this many cigarettes |
| Smoky bar or restaurant | 2 hours | 4 |
| Office | 8 hours | 6 |
| Pack-a-day Home | 24 hours | 3 |
| Car | 1 hour | 3 |
|
January 1, 2008, the Smoke-Free Illinois Act became effective throughout Illinois. This act prohibits smoking in all indoor public places or places of employment, or within 15 feet of an entrance to a public place or place of employment. No person may smoke in any vehicle owned, leased, or operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state. The ban prohibits smoking in any indoor public place or place of business including bars, restaurants, and private clubs as well as within a 15 foot buffer zone from any door, window, or air vent at any public place. The Smoke-Free Illinois Act defines “smoke” or “smoking” as the “carrying, smoking, burning, inhaling, or exhaling of any kind of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, hookah (e.g. shisha or sheesha), weed, herbs, or any other lighted smoking equipment.” The Smoke- Free Illinois Act will override most local ordinances that allowed a phased in smoking ban or an exemption due to the installation of approved air filtration systems. Individuals face a $100 fine for a first time offense, and a $250 fine for a second offense. Bars and restaurants that allow smoking after January 1, 2008, will be subject to fines of $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $2,500 for the third. Section 20 of the Act requires No Smoking signs or the No Smoking symbol be clearly and conspicuously posted at every entrance. Section 20 also states that all ashtrays shall be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Remember, this ban focuses on public and indoor establishments. Therefore, if your establishment serves the public, has employees, or is a building that does not qualify as outdoor—not enclosed, no roof—your establishment falls under the ban. The ban is to protect both customers and employees from second-hand smoke in all areas of any public building, including, but not limited to, offices, restrooms, and break rooms as well as within the 15-foot buffer zone. The Illinois Department of Public Health, the Menard County Health Department, and local police departments are required to enforce the ban. MCHD will check public places early in 2008, and, if necessary, will begin writing warning tickets. if you wish to report a violation of the Smoke-Free Illinois law, If you have questions regarding your responsibilities to comply with the ban, please phone Dean Heyen, Environmental Health Coordinator, Georgialyn Gurski, Grants Coordinator, or Alicia Davis, Administrator at the Menard County Health Department, 217. 632.2984. |