slacker Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Irregular News for 10.20.06 Omaha, NE -- If you catch someone smoking in a non-smoking area in Omaha, Neb., call the police. The Omaha Police Department (OPD) is encouraging city residents to call 911 in the wake of the citywide ban on smoking that went into effect on Oct. 2. Teresa Negron, sergeant in charge of public information of the OPD, explained that the department encourages observers of infractions to pick up the phone to report the infraction -- just like they would for any other crime they observe being committed. "Citizens or business owners that observe a violation to the smoking ban are urged to call 911 and report the violation," Negron told Cybercast News Service. "[it's like] any other crime that happens in any city -- if somebody sees a crime happen, they can call 911 and report it." Negron did not necessarily endorse immediately calling 911 but still saw it as a viable option. "What I would recommend for people to do is bring it to the attention of the management, and if that doesn't stop, then obviously contact us, and we'll respond and we'll handle it," she said. However, the calls are not high priority. "The first week, we had maybe 10 calls in the entire city," said Negron. "Calls concerning the smoking ban were not high-priority calls, so we have a system in place that calls that come in and have a higher priority will be handled." The penalty is a citation and fee for individuals caught violating the ban -- $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses, according to a summary of the city ordinance posted online. "Obviously, they would receive a citation for violating the smoking ordinance," said Negron. According to some, however, the new law will encourage people to become "snitches." "I think that it's one thing for people to monitor themselves," said Amy Kauffman, research fellow for the Hudson Institute. "It's another thing to ask people to monitor their friends, neighbors and cohorts. It is turning people into snitches." Kauffman called this "a horrible thing" and a waste of city resources. "To use 911 for this purpose goes against what 911 is designated for. It is an emergency service. These are not emergencies," Kauffman said. She further classified the situation as over the top. "To take 911, which is supposed to respond to someone within I guess one to three minutes, and use it for this and to clog the lines with busybodies phoning in on their neighbors is ridiculous." Mark Welsch, president of the Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution (GASP) of Nebraska, disagrees. "It's not an over-reaction, it's a good use of our city resources" that are being squandered on smokers, according to Welsch. "I think about 13 percent of our total Medicaid expenses are caused by tobacco," Welsch said. "So, I'm paying too much. I don't want to subsidize tobacco use in my state. We should have just enough to break even. For next year, we would have to raise the tobacco tax by about 50 cents per pack -- just to break even." Smoking isn't the only problem that needs fixing to trim down the costs, Welsch said. There's also a problem with food consumption that needs attention. "We're such a fat country, by and large. Somebody needs to do something, or our Medicaid and Medicare costs are just going to continue to go up and up, not just because of smoking, but because of people being overweight and too lethargic to take their butts outside and walk," said Welsch. Kauffman noted that smoking is not good for your health but insisted that 911 calls are not the answer. "Smoking has been proven to be bad for one's health," she said. "But I really think that sometimes, these people go a little bit too far. It is a trend, but this is different because not only is it a trend where they're saying 'no smoking,' but now they're asking people to actually phone in and report other people." source Quote Link to comment
rawhide Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Now little brother is watching. The first time I took my wife back to Nebraska and we took my parents out to a restaurant. When we walked in my wife said "I think someone is smoking in here". It was 1997. She didn't remember when Cali had smoking in restaurants. pretty funny how things change. GBR trod on the whorns. Quote Link to comment
huskernumerouno Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 That is bull sh#t, 911 is not for sh#t like that. What will happen when one person cannot get through because you have a bunch of sniviling do gooders calling in. I know they said they only recieved 10 calls or what ever but that is stupidity at its finest. Quote Link to comment
DaveH Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I remember them talking about that. It was retarded. Call 911. OMG~! Quote Link to comment
huskernumerouno Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 and we wonder why there are people out there that think we are backwards hicks. The only reason to call 911 if someone is smoking is if they are or were on fire. Quote Link to comment
Nigel87 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I thought that was a joke, just like the woman who called 911 because she was unsatified with the service at Burger King. When we moved to Canada (Alberta) we were shocked that when you'd go into a restaurant they'd ask "Smoking or non?" Now they're changing that. I even think they're banning smoking in bars here too. Quote Link to comment
HSKRNOKC Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Anyone remember the original Police Academy movie? Tacklebury handled this problem. Quote Link to comment
BIGREDIOWAN Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 If I get a call for me to respond to an illegal smoker ever here in Des Moines I will be extremely pissed!!!! I'll probably take a flash bang and throw it in the restaurant and clear the whole damn thing out!!!! That would stop that 911 crap right in it's tracks!!!! j/k Quote Link to comment
huskernumerouno Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 If I get a call for me to respond to an illegal smoker ever here in Des Moines I will be extremely pissed!!!! I'll probably take a flash bang and throw it in the restaurant and clear the whole damn thing out!!!! That would stop that 911 crap right in it's tracks!!!! j/k Now that would be frickin funny Quote Link to comment
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