No Smoking - starting today!

Grand Rapids - Starting today, no more smoking in most enclosed public places and businesses in Grand Rapids.

The Clean Indoor Air Ordinance went into effect October 1st which requires that most enclosed public places and businesses within the City of Grand Rapids be smoke-free. Restaurants, bars, and private rooms within hotels/motels are excluded from this requirement.

The Ordinance prohibits smoking in enclosed worksites and within 10 feet of doors, windows, and ventilation systems.

While all businesses within in the city must comply with the new ordinance, some are taking it a step further.

"We were probably known as a smoker's hangout for a number of years, but the last few years it's kind of dwindled and we've had less smokers," says Jim Koukios, co-owner of The Red Hot Inn on Leonard at East Beltline.

Koukis says in the last year the restaurant has an overwhelming number of requests to go smoke free.

"It was kind of a gut-wrenching decision,? he says. ?We figured with the new clean air policy we felt this was a good time for us to go smoke free." Customers visiting the restaurant Monday seemed to share the same sentiment.

"It's a little bit of an inconvenience,? says smoker Tommy Barnett. ?But I guess for everybody else's sake it's alright."

Non-smoker Amanda Sly likes the smoke-free move.

"I would rather be in a restaurant that's non-smoking,? she says. ?I don't like the smell of smoke."

Grand Rapids City leaders say that will the ordinance is enforceable, there will be no ?cigarette patrol?.

Virginia Million enforces codes for the cities and says businesses and smokers will be warned several times before a ticket is issued.

She says she'd rather see people more aware of their surroundings.

"Be aware of the smoking that affects other people. Take it to your car, take it away from the building and not subject it to other people," says Million.

Million says businesses are responsible for creating a smoking policy that reflects the cities.

If there are ever complaints about smoking in or around that business, they'll have to produce that policy for inspectors.

The city will only investigate if a complaint is filed, but will give the $50 ticket after multiple complaints.

Back at The Red Hot Inn the first day of being smoke-free seemed to be a success. Koukis says sales remained steady, customers were happy, and the air was crisper.

"You can already smell the difference,? he says. ?There's no smoke in here."