RICHMOND -
State leaders held back on implementing the smoking ban to give restaurant and bar owners more time to become compliant and to figure out how to enforce the law.
Gary Hagy, with the Virginia Department of Health said, during the next three months, they'll visit and inspect restaurants and bars that have permitted smoking up to this point. However, owners will not be punished if they are not compliant during the first inspection. Instead, they'll receive a warning.
If the restaurant or bar still isn't compliant after the warning expires, then health officials will call local law enforcement to issue a $25 civil penalty.
However, owners may not get a fine or visit from officers because some local police jurisdictions aren't ready to begin enforcing the new law.
Gary Hagy, with the Virginia Department of Health said, during the next three months, they'll visit and inspect restaurants and bars that have permitted smoking up to this point. However, owners will not be punished if they are not compliant during the first inspection. Instead, they'll receive a warning.
If the restaurant or bar still isn't compliant after the warning expires, then health officials will call local law enforcement to issue a $25 civil penalty.
However, owners may not get a fine or visit from officers because some local police jurisdictions aren't ready to begin enforcing the new law.
