Independence Reviews Smoking Ban Case - News Story - KCTV Kansas City

Municipality officials are reviewing a modern smoking ban situation that ended with a not-guilty decision, however they are not satisfied the city's smoking ordinance is defective. The municipal court dispute involved club owner Jennifer Brashear, who appealed an earlier guilty verdict and was begin not guilty Monday of two violations of the this Kansas Megalopolis suburb's Disinfected Indoor Air ordinance.

She had been accused of twice letting patrons smoke inside the club. We are not convinced from this one context that we are anywhere near going back to the picture board," Metropolis Counsellor Allen Garner said.

Nevertheless conurbation staff members are reviewing procedures followed in Brashear's case, he said, hoping to gain what led the Jackson County chancellor who heard the beseech to catch Brashear not guilty. Allen said the provision that the club owner had been charged with violating was dependable one of legion in the ordinance. Brashear's lawyer, John Carnes, said he thinks Independence's smoking ordinance has legally evil words that makes it laborious to enforce.

He said the City Council should revise the ordinance so that it is and enforceable, with "some common-sense accommodations for inconsequential bar owners."

The ordinance is so poorly written it gives the bar owner no attention approximately what a bar owner should engage in provided he sees a bar protector smoking a cigarette," Carnes told KCTV5 News. Brashear said she hopes an treaty can be reached that works improved for businesses as bright-eyed as the city. The Clean Indoor Air Fact went into backlash in Step after almost 64 percent of Independence voters approved it in Nov 2006. The ordinance received foothold in 92 of 98 precincts.

Owners and workers from indefinite little bars and restaurants hog appealed to council members in that the ordinance passed, claiming it has buffeted their businesses. They answer their establishments are lasting to corresponding businesses in neighbouring cities where smoking bans are not enforced.

In Kansas City, a battery of human beings that wants to ban smoking at bars and restaurants filed petitions Wednesday with the city clerk's office. The petitioners are asking the City Council to adopt the restrictions or let voters decide in the close available election, which is in April.

The proposal would pep to the City Council after the registered voter signatures on the petitions annex been reviewed and fix valid. Preceding Stories: Dec 18, 2007: Smoking Ban In Jeopardy? Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.