Smoking Ban: Some Wonder If State Ready

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Some business owners and even local health departments are wondering if Michigan is really ready to go smoke free. The ban starts in less than a month.

Come May first, Michigan's ban on smoking in restaurants and bars takes effect. The Grand Tavern and thousands of similar establishments will instantly become smoke free.

"Curious who's going to come in and enforce it, and who's going to write tickets. Do they want me to call the local police if somebody lights up a cigarette," Mario Lucaj, owner of the Grand Tavern. "They're not letting us know anything."

County health departments are receiving no funds from the state to enforce the new smoking ban.

"We're looking to the state to find out where that funding's going to come from, and, if we get a complaint here, we'll be referring it back to the state," said Kathy Forzley with the Oakland County Health Division.

Unlike many other states, Michigan's ban on smoking in bars and restaurants will not exempt outdoor patios, rooftops and decks.

"We'll probably set something up on the other side of the patio or by the front door where they can step outside and smoke, if that's allowed. We don't even know where it's allowed or it's not allowed as of yet," Lucaj said.

Customers see the state's regulations lagging behind the new law.

"They're going to have some problems with that, and they're going to have to try to facilitate something, or it's going to be a mess right outside the front door," said Forest Rutherford.

"I think enforcement's going to be the problem. I think there's going to be people, as you're talking about, on patios. How (are) they going to enforce it? It's going to be a big problem, big headache," said Tom Stremple.

In most places, smoking bans have eventually boosted restaurant and bar business.

"Lot of other states and countries have gone non-smoking. So, I think there will be a little backlash maybe for the first couple weeks, but they'll get used to it," said Lucaj.