City to begin ticketing under smoking bylaw

Bylaw officerswill stop issuing warnings and start ticketing smokers and business owners caught flouting Calgary's new rules on butting out, say city officials.

The grace period for anew smoking bylaw that took effect on Jan. 1is over as of Thursday, said Calgary alderman Craig Burrows.

"We've tried to be nice, they've taken advantage of nice," he said Wednesday.

"We're going hard now, and we're going after the ringleaders. We can't go after everyone, but we know who the problem children are and we're going after them."

Illegal to light up in public places

Calgary's new bylaw makes it illegal to light up in all public places, including restaurants and bars. But the city has given one-year exemptions to businesses that have separate ventilated smoking rooms, as well as to casinos and bingo halls.

Alvin Murray, the spokesman for the city's bylaw department, said he has receivedabout 300complaints about smoking violations.

Businesses thatreceived warnings can expect a follow-up visit frombylaw officers,while smokers and serving staff could also be fined, Murray warned.

Fines for violating the smoking bylawcan range from$100 to $300, or an officer can issue a mandatory court appearance and a judge can impose a fine as high as $2,500.

Business owners that allow smokingcould facea review of their business licenses, said Murray.

City dismisses injunction application

Filo's Restaurant, acting on behalf of 35 Calgary businesses, filed a motion at the Court of Queen's Bench in December asking for a one-year exemption from the smoke-free rules.

The establishments mounting the challenge argue they are more like bingo halls and casinos rather than bars and lounges, because a large part of their revenue comes from video lottery terminals.

The city doesn't agree that businesses with VLTs are being discriminated against.

Tim Bardsley, the lawyer for the group, wouldn't comment on the city's crackdown. His case will be heard on Feb. 8.