The smoking ban in Wichita went into effect so quickly, businesses are still working to comply. Many spent Wednesday getting rid of all evidence smoking ever existed. It's all because a judge ruled against the group fighting to over turn the statewide ban. His decision Tuesday immediately lifted the injunction on the statewide ban.
Wednesday morning, Kay Woods at Shooters bar loaded up boxes of ashtrays. She and another co-worker lugged the dozens of glass ashtrays into storage. "Why do we have to do this, what was wrong with the way it was," Woods said.
But the new way is smoke free and Woods isn't happy about it. "I have to explain this is a no smoking bar, you cannot smoke in here the State of Kansas says so. It's not my choice and if you're mad, go ahead and call the governor because I can't do a thing about it," she said.
After loading the ashtrays into storage, she pulled out three white buckets. They filled the buckets with sand and they'll be the only ashtrays used now. They placed them on the other side of the newly painted red line, marking where you are now allowed to smoke. "So people have some where to put their cigarette butts so they won't be all over the parking lot," she said.
Bars like Shooters aren't the only ones having to put away their ashtrays. The Breakfast Club was one of the few all smoking restaurants left in Wichita and now they're dealing with a lot of unhappy customers. "There's been a lot of people ask for an ashtray and I've had to tell them. I've had a few blow up at me but it's not my choice," waitress Elizabeth Young said.
She says it's been tough because everyone in the restaurant is used to lighting up. "You feel bad telling them if they didn't know," she said. But like Shooters and every other business in Wichita, all signs of smoking in the restaurant are now gone.
But the impact of Wichita now participating in the smoking ban stretches further than just the city limits.
Cities like Derby have had bans in effect for more than a year and many people say they would give their business to Wichita, simply because they could smoke there.
"If we wanted to go out and have a coctail with dinner, it made it real nice, we would go into Wichita to do that," said Mike Young.
He says he feels Wichita will feel the hurt of the more than just locals deciding to stay home.
Wichita police will now be responsible for enforcing the smoking ban. To report a violation call Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4111. If you are caught smoking, the smoker and the business will be fined. They range from $100 to $500, depending on the number of offenses.
Businesses can also call the Wichita Office of Central Inspection with questions about the smoking ban at (316) 268-4479. Other information is available at www.kssmokefree.org.
