Local bar owners do not have any problems with enforcing the smoking ban in their beer gardens.

Even with the warm weather DeKalb has been having, both police and bar owners have reported no increase in smoking ban violations.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said he has not had many complaints since the smoking ban took effect, and he has especially not seen a rise since the weather has been getting warmer.

“I think for the most part the general public has done a good job in complying with [the smoking ban],” Feithen said. “I could probably count [the complaints] on one hand.”

If the police department does receive a complaint, officers are sent to the location and the problem is resolved with little issue, Feithen said.

Matt McIntyre, manager of Starbusters Bar and Grill, 930 Pappas Drive, said he does not see a problem with people smoking in the beer garden.

“You have to be 15 feet from the door,” McIntyre said. “We follow city ordinances. We don’t have any problem with any of our Starbusters’ customers.”

Mark Robison, assistant manager of Reilly’s Bar & Eatery, 1215 Blackhawk Road, said people are allowed to smoke in their beer garden as long as they follow city rules.

“Most people smoke in our beer garden,” Robison said. “It’s allowed if it’s 15 feet from the door.”
Robison said they have a bouncer in the beer garden to enforce the smoking ban, but they do not
usually have any issues.

“We’ve never allowed smoking so it’s never really been a problem,” Robison said.

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