First year of smoking ban results in 3,300 complaints

(MCT) — More than 3,300 complaints were lodged in the first year after Iowa banned smoking in most public places.

According to a report issued Monday by the Iowa Department of Public Health, about 1 percent of Iowa’s 82,000 businesses have received notices of potential violation since the Smokefree Air Act went into effect July 1, 2008.

The act prohibits smoking in nearly all public places, including restaurants and bars. Exceptions include gaming floors of casinos and up to 20 percent of hotel rooms. The report showed 2,100 of 3,318 complaints were validated and 1,417 notices of potential violation were sent to businesses.

Don McCormick, a spokesman for the health department, said not every complaint results in a notice. For example, several people might complain about the same violation, which would result in only one letter to that business.

Businesses in Linn County, one of the most populous counties in Iowa, received the second highest number of notices, with 41. Polk County businesses had the most, with 222. Johnson County businesses received 12. But that translates into only .7 percent of Linn County businesses and .4 percent in Johnson County.

The majority of complaints — 61 percent, or 1,302 — were lodged against bars and restaurants. Twelve percent, or 242 complaints, were against retail stores or services, while 4 percent were for both private clubs and educational facilities.