Roseburg resident react to new smoking ban ordinance

Roseburg resident react to new smoking ban ordinance

Four years after the city of roseburg passed its first smoking ban... the city council has tightened the rules even more.

Now, people can no longer smoke during large events -- where families and children are present.

Kezi 9 news reporter evita garza explains why some people feel like the new rules are completely unnecessary --- and unfair.

Trt: 1:25 00:00 take lower as a smoker himself, jerry kapraun tells me the city newest law is extremely unfair.

It says people can no longer smoke at large events & specificially in downtown roseburg.

But kapraun says he is always considerate about where he lights up& and he does his best to keep it away from people who can be around it.

00:17 jerry kapraun, roseburg resident: we just say away from the crowd to go smoke.

So i just really don see a reason behind it?

In 2016, the council passed a law that prohibits smoking on public roads and sidewalks.

But city staff say enforcement is tough with limited resources and staffing.

Theye hoping this new law is specific enough to crack down& while keeping downtown a smoke free zone when kids and their families are there the most.?i just don think it necessary.

I don think it hurting anybody.

I mean wee outside?

00:45 evita: despite the push back from people from kapern, many people tell me the smoking ban will benefit the community in the long run... and possibly attract more people to downtown?

00:54 duane taylor, roseburg resident: it health reasons.

But some people might not come downtown because of the smoke, and maybe wel get more people down here?

Other people i spoke to say they are worried nothing will change& no matter how it enforced.

1:07 isidra castro, business owner:?there going to be a level of uninformed people that are unfortunately doing what they shouldn be doing and they don care?

As for kapraun& he says hel do his best to follow the new rules& for the sake of the people around