Smoking Law Quietly Gains Acceptance

When Pasadena passed a stringent ordinance regulating smoking in offices and public places, opponents spoke out bitterly against unnecessary government regulation.

It now appears that because the law is enforced only when there are complaints, it has been quietly accepted and disputes are being resolved privately.

A similar ordinance is pending in Santa Monica.

City officials, who had no idea what to expect when they passed the ordinance a year ago, say they are pleased by the lack of difficulties.

‘No Problem’

“It has been no problem and we have only had two complaints,” said Dr. Elton Blum, city health officer.

The law prohibits smoking in elevators, hospitals and health care facilities, public meeting rooms, theaters and auditoriums and public restrooms.

Eating establishments with a capacity of 50 or more must designate at least 25% of their seating area for non-smokers.

Workplace rules allow any employee in an office the right to designate his immediate area as a no-smoking area. In any dispute arising under the smoking policy, the rights of the non-smoker are given precedence.

Although the city’s Health Department is responsible for enforcement, it does not seek violators but acts only when it receives complaints.

No Feedback

This is why the Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the ordinance, has had no feedback from its members, said Rolfe Arnhym, executive vice president.

Restaurant owners, who bear the main burden of the ordinance, had said they responded to the needs and desires of customers in the interest of good business practices, rather than on the orders of government.

However, customers seem to like the idea, said Jerry Myers, owner of the Sawmill restaurant, who has found that the logistics of compliance become less of a problem as time goes by.

“It was a headache for a while but it is workable,” he said. “Initially we allocated 25% of our seats to non-smokers but we have gradually increased it to 40%.