Final Week to Smoke Your Brains Out in Public

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jan 11, 2006 9:32PM

We finally are approaching the day that many thought would never come: The day the smoking ban starts. Starting January 16 (what would MLK think?) smoking is banned in Chicago bars, restaurants and businesses. Acutally, restaurants with bar areas and bars will have until July 1, 2008 to get their nonnsmoking act together, but the countdown is on.

Starting next week enforcers sent out to monitor establishments to make sure they're complying. Following California's lead, they'll be establishing a 3 strikes policy. Don't comply once: ok. Don't comply twice: ok. Don't comply a 3rd time: You're outta here. And by "out" we mean you'll be fined $100, with subsequent fines of as much as $2,500, or suspension or revocation of permits & licenses. Also, it's not just people who own or manage a place that will get in trouble. If you're sitting in Denny's and you light up and get caught, you'll be fined up to a hundred bucks too.