This is how we roll in West Texas
By Sarah Carlson
April 4, 2007
For months now, the citizens in Abilene have been in an uproar over the newly created smoking ordinance, which bans smoking in most public places and businesses and requires residents to stand 20 feet away from a building's entrance if they're going to smoke. Opponents of the ban tried to garner enough signatures for a petition to have the City Council overturn the ordinance, but failed spectacularly. Now Abilene police are laying down the law. The following story made our front page today, and found its way onto the Texas AP wire. Enjoy:
Man jailed for allegedly violating smoking ban
ABILENE, Texas (AP) — One West Texas city is really serious about its smoking ban.
Just ask Brian Wayne Hendrix, who was arrested and jailed on an outstanding warrant for smoking in public. Hendrix, 44, said he was “flabbergasted” by the arrest, which came after an officer pulled him over Tuesday morning on a traffic stop.
“I never thought I’d be going to jail for smoking a cigarette, but I’d do it again,” said Hendrix, who was released from the Taylor County Jail after posting $150 bond Tuesday afternoon.
The city’s smoking ban that went into effect Jan. 3 prohibits smoking in most public places and businesses. Hendrix is the first person in Abilene to be arrested on a warrant for smoking in a public place, Assistant Police Chief Mark Moore said.
“If we go to a place where there are a lot of people smoking with no regard to the smoking ban ordinance, we will enforce it,” Moore said. “As long as it’s law, we ask that they comply.”
Teresa Borcik, Municipal Court administrator, said Hendrix was cited for smoking in a public place on Feb. 24 and had 10 days to appear in court to contest the charge or to pay the $150 ticket. When he didn’t show up, an arrest warrant was issued March 6, she said.
Hendrix said he has been smoking since he was a teenager.
“As long as it is legal to smoke, I am going to keep smoking. I’m not going to quit any time soon,” he said. “I think they are just trying to make more money for the city by messing with the smokers.”
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