Tennessee prepares to go smoke-free

A new state law takes effect October 1st. The Tennessee Non-Smoker Protection Act bans smoking in all enclosed public places, with very few exceptions.

Tuesday, workers learned how to enforce the law..

"We're not trying to be the smoking police," said Hugh Atkins with the Tennessee Department of Health. "We're trying to get everybody in compliance."

Atkins trains local health departments to enforce the ban.

Knox County Health Department employees called "environmentalists" listened to his presentation Tuesday afternoon.

They already inspect restaurants, hotels, and nursing homes. Now they're learning how to add smoking-ban compliance to their duties.

"We're in these places from two to four times per year, minimum," said Atkins. "Plus, we're going to investigate it on a complaint-by-complaint basis."

Starting October 1st, a "no smoking" sign must be posted at every business entrance, even the employee entrance.

"They have to convey to employees that this is a non-smoking establishment because it applies to employees as well as patrons," said Atkins.

Environmentalists will also check to see if hotels exceed the limits on smoking rooms.

If an environmentalist spots someone smoking during an inspection, he or she will not approach the smoker.

Instead, the environmentalist will "point out to the person in charge of the establishment, and then it's up to him to go to the person in violation and point out that he's in violation and ask him to stop."

Violators face fines.

Individual smokers face $50 fines.

Businesses get a warning letter for the first violation, a $100 fine the second time, and a $500 fine each time after that.

"In the first month or two, we'll get a lot of calls, a lot of complaints," said Atkins. "We're going to try to investigate all of those right at the beginning, educate the people, trying to get them in compliance."

Two different agencies will actually enforce the ban.

The Health Department will cover all the businesses they already regulate. The Labor Department will enforce it everywhere else.

Smoking will be allowed on outdoor restaurant patios, at private clubs, and places limited to people over 21 at all times.

The Knox County Health Department is offering information sessions for area businesses. Each session will last about an hour and will include a question and answer segment. You can call the Health Department at 215-5200 for more information.

You can also find out more from the State of Tennessee website.