Health Department Receives Complaints On Smoking Ban

Publication Date: 2005-03-31

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• Publication:The Day (New London, CT)

The state Health Department has received 70 complaints about businesses where smoking allegedly occurred despite a new smoking ban. The department sent letters to the businesses, telling them of the law and how to comply. The ban, which began March 1, prohibits smoking in most public places. Local city or town solicitors are required to prosecute in municipal court if a business receives two formal complaints.

The businesses face fines of $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second and $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

Bill Dundulis, who helps enforce the law at the Health Department, said in most cases, the complaint gives the state a chance to educate a specific business about the law. He said some are places that thought they were exempt, but they're not.