A new, comprehensive smoking ban went into effect
today here in Seattle, Washington, and throughout the state.
Just a month ago, voters passed Initiative 901, which
prohibits smoking inside any public place and
inside any place of employment, and within 25 feet of
entrances, exits, open windows,
or air intakes
of such places. This initiative tightens restrictions begun in
1985 with the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act.
I voted against the initiative, because I almost always vote
against initiatives. I believe we live in a representative
democracy, in which elected officials should make the law,
not advocates for a special issue.
Advocates write laws heavly skewed toward their interest,
while lawmakers have to hammer out a workable comprimise.
I make an exceptions when I'm extremely agitated over the
specific issue, but in this case the smoking ban seems a little
draconian to me.
On the other hand,
I am a nonsmoker and worry about family
members who can't break the habit. Now that the initiative
has passed and has become law, I'm looking
forward to the cleaner air in local
drinking establishments. Until today,
I could count on my left thumbs the number of places into which
I could discreetly pop into for a quick pint without my wife
noticing the cigarette stink on my clothes.
The State of Washington has a website which explains
the new law and provides links to resources to help
people quit smoking: http://www.secondhandsmokesyou.com