VENTURA : Council to Review Tough Smoking Law

The Ventura City Council will give alast review to its anti-smoking ordinance today before its provisions take effect Feb. 24.

The impetus to do so comes largely from restaurant owners and bingo club operators who have objected to the new law and would like its provisions brought in line with the more relaxed state law.

State law does not force restaurants with bars to ban smoking until 1997. Ventura’s ordinance, by comparison, says that smoking in restaurants with bars must end by Feb. 24--unless the restaurant owner installs a ventilation system in the bar that directs the smoke away from restaurant patrons.

The state also in some instances allows restaurants with bars to install less-expensive filtration systems, rather than investing in a new ventilation system. Ventura’s ordinance does not allow for that.

Finally, the state law gives bingo parlors more time to comply with the anti-smoking restrictions--unlike the Ventura ordinance, which says they must also ban smoking later this month.