City, County Will Begin Enforcing Smoking Policy Sign Policy For Restaurants To Take Effect In Two Weeks

The city and county will start enforcing the new smoking policy sign program in two weeks.

The Spokane Regional Health District announced Wednesday that restaurants should start posting signs informing diners of the business’ smoking status.

“This is a coming out, so to speak,” said Dan Petek, representing the health district.

The yellow, red and green signs are already a familiar sight at many eating and drinking establishments in Spokane County. Green means the business is smoke-free. Yellow means smoking is allowed in designated areas. Red means smoking is allowed throughout.

County commissioners approved the sign ordinance in December. The Spokane City Council gave the plan a green light in October. Twelve other communities in the county still haven’t approved the plan, the first of its kind in the country.

Already, 747 of the 1,114 businesses affected by the rules have bought the $2 sign. Of those, 392 are green, 222 are yellow, 133 are red.

The ordinance was drafted for the Spokane Regional Health Board by a panel of community and restaurant representatives. It’s a watered-down version of a push in the last two years to ban smoking in restaurants altogether.

This program allows restaurants and people to choose the kind of atmosphere wanted.

“This is one where everyone has the right to make a decision,” Petek told reporters at the smoke-free Applebee’s Restaurant on the South Hill.

In two weeks, environmental health inspectors will begin checking to see if restaurants are displaying the signs. If not, the restaurants will be warned and given a sign order form.

After being warned, businesses that don’t follow the rules face a $100 fine.

“We’re not trying to make them change the way they’re doing business,” said Linda Jackson, health educator for the district. “We’re just trying to get them to let the public know.”

, DataTimes