To smoke or not to smoke: Don’t just vote, know your ballot

As for every general election, TAG wants you to understand what you’re voting on, but will continue to abstain from politician talk. The two big points on the ballot are: 1) A ban of alcohol sales at movie theaters; and 2) The indoor smoking ban. Here is the wording of those issues you will see on today’s ballot.

Question 1: Should “Family-Oriented Theaters” be allowed to sell alcohol?

Shall the City of Springfield, Missouri prohibit the sale, consumption or advertisement of alcohol in movie theatres with more than twenty-five percent (25%) of their ticket sales to persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years in the most recent previous (3) month period, said theaters to be known as “Family-Oriented Theaters”, within the City of Springfield, but excluding movie theaters operated by religious, charitable or other organizations which have achieved a IRC section 501 (c)(3) status, providing for audit of, and burden of proof on, the percentage of ticket sales to persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years, and establishing penalties of businesses which violate said ordinance including suspension or loss of the license to sell alcohol for various periods of time including for the first offense a suspension for an unspecified time until proof is provided by the business of the most recent three month period of ticket sales that reflect less than 25% of ticket sales are for admission of persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years, for the second offense a suspension of twelve (12) months and for the third offense suspension of twenty-four (24) months and fines of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the first offense, five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the second offense and one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the third offence?
• Yes (or) • No

Question 2: Should smoking indoors be banned?

Shall the City of Springfield, Missouri, prohibit smoking in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, within five (5) feet of outdoor playgrounds and within five (5) feet of outside entrances, operable windows, and ventilation systems of enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited, and exempt the following places from the smoking prohibition: a) private residences, unless such resident is used as a child care, adult day care, or healthcare facility; b) not more than 25% of the hotel or motel rooms rented to guests as smoking rooms; and c) outdoor areas of places of employment; providing for the imposition of a fine of $50 per violation for any person violating said ordinance by smoking, upon a finding or admission of guilt; upon a finding or admission of guilt, providing for fines ranging from $100-$500 per day against the owner, operator, manager or any agent who controls a public place or place of employment or any business, and allows smoking to occur on the premises; providing for revocation of any license or permit issued to the business or public place that permits such violations; requiring that business and public places place signage advising of the prohibition on smoking?
• Yes (or) • No