Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2012
5TH ANNIVERSARY OF SMOKE FREE ILLINOIS ACT
Mt. Vernon- On January 1, 2013, we will celebrate the fifth birthday of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act that requires public places and places of employment to be completely smoke-free inside and within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes. This includes but is not limited to:
- Public places and buildings, offices, elevators, restrooms, theaters, museums, libraries, educational institutions, schools, commercial establishments, enclosed shopping centers and retail stores
- Restaurants, bars, taverns and gaming facilities
- Lobbies, reception areas, hallways, meeting rooms, waiting rooms, break rooms and other common-use areas
- Concert halls, auditoriums, enclosed or partially enclosed sports arenas, bowling alleys, skating rinks, convention facilities, polling places and private clubs
- Hospitals, health care facilities, health care clinics, child care, adult care or other similar social service care
- No less than 75 percent of hotel or motel sleeping quarters rented to guests
- Public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and vehicles open to the public
Since tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of early death in the United States, we can collectively take a breath of fresh air in Illinois and know that more people than ever are able to enjoy safe, smoke-free environments.
The first year the law was in effect, the Jefferson County Health Department provided mostly education about the SFIA at public meetings held to help the community and businesses understand the law and comply with required signage.
The second year, the SFIA was amended making enforcement possible, but there were still a lot of uncertainties about the role of public health vs. law enforcement with who would take the lead of enforcing the law. When the Jefferson County Health Department received notice of complaints about the SFIA, an educational letter was sent out with information on where to obtain free signage and to clarify the points of the SFIA. If the health department received a second complaint on the same business, then a warning letter was sent to inform the business of the fines associated with the violations of the SFIA.
Again, the health department continued to provide education to restaurants, bars, and other businesses that we received complaints about possible violations of the SFIA.
This past year the health department started issuing citations after conducting investigations of public complaints regarding violations of the Smoke Free Illinois Act. We will continue to follow up on public complaints and issue citations when violations occur.
We are now approaching the 5th anniversary of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act in January 2013. This law is designed to protect employees and our citizens from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke in public places and places of employment.
We are proud to say that the majority of our businesses and food establishments in Jefferson County are in compliance of the Smoke Free Illinois Act.
If you see smoking in public places, you may file a complaint by calling the Illinois Department of Public Health’s toll-free complaint line at 866-973-4646 (TTY 800-547-0466, hearing impaired use only). You may also file a complaint online at Http://www.idph.state.il/us/smokefree/complaints.htm or call the Jefferson County Health Department at 618-244-7134 to report a complaint.
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