State Status
Any Preemption
News Summary
Confusion over potential smoking bans
Publication Date: 2005-03-27
- Author:BRIAN CALLAWAY
- Publication:The Intelligencer
But confusion over what state law allows may be discouraging that.
"I don't think we have the right to do that," said Randall C. Flager, a New Hope councilman. "I don't even want to get into a whole discussion of what-ifs and maybes if we don't even have that power."
Indeed, when asked about a possible smoking ban, many local officials cite part of a 1988 state law that specifically forbids them from passing any rules more strict than the state's, which allows for smoking in most bars and restaurants.