Calif. Police Go Undercover to Enforce Smoking Ban January 4, 2002
News Summary
Police in Contra Costa County, Calif., are going undercover to catch bars and restaurants that allow smoking, the Contra Costa Times reported Jan. 3.For eight years, California has had a ban on smoking in restaurants. Four years ago, the ban was extended to bars.
The sheriff's office has relied on voluntary compliance, because Contra Costa County lacked money to assign an officer to enforce the ban. But thanks to a three-year, $300,000 state grant, the county can now fund an undercover officer to conduct compliance checks.
"Now we will be able to visit every single bar and establishment to make sure they are complying with the state law," said Denice Dennis, manager of Contra Costa's tobacco-prevention program. "We believe every worker has the right to work in a smoke-free environment. That's why the law was passed."
Bars and restaurants found in violation of the smoking ban will receive citations in the mail. The penalty ranges from $100 to as high as $2,000 a day if it is determined that the business is deliberately committing violations.
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