Skip to main content

A Year Later: Complaint Survey Results Show Citizens and Businesses are Complying with Smoke Free Law

May 19, 2011  

 

 According to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) statewide survey of all local health departments, the state has received 1,126 violations of the smoke-free law in food service establishments including restaurants, bars and bowling alleys since it took effect May 1, 2010.Lansing -

 

  A violation is a complaint found to be valid and required action by the health department.  Bringing the statewide total to 1,491 violations and 117 issued citations.  Non-Food service establishments received 365 violations and 16 of those violations resulted in citations being issued. Of the 1,126 violations, 101 of them resulted in citations and two of them required cease orders to gain compliance.

 

The law is protecting the public's health and the health of employees". "We are pleased with businesses and with the public's response with the law," said Jean Chabut, MDCH Deputy Director of Public Health. "The popularity of the law with the public is a major reason why we have few violations.

 

"We owe the local health departments a big thank you for their efforts to educate the public and businesses about the law and the action they have taken to gain compliance. We also appreciate the cooperation of businesses to ensure they have taken the appropriate steps to comply with the law".

 

The survey can be viewed at: www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw.