4 Investigates: Illegal smoking

FIVE MONTHS INTO A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN, AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS HANDING OUT ITS FIRS...  More »

FIVE MONTHS INTO A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN, AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS HANDING OUT ITS FIRST CITATIONS. WE WENT ALONG ON AN UNDERCOVER STING -- WITH A HIDDEN CAMERA AS AUTHORITIES CHECKED OUT COMPLAINTS AT TWO BARS. AND AS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JEREMY JOJOLA SHOWS US, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO FIND PEOPLE BREAKING THE LAW. WE FOLLOWED UNDERCOVER CITY OFFICIALS INTO ALBUQUERQUE BARS LIKE THIS ONE. PLACES, THE CITY SAYS IT'S WARNED REPEATEDLY ABOUT ILLEGAL SMOKING. BUT THIS TIME, THE CITY GOT SERIOUS. 'nats door opening' WITH A HIDDEN CAMERA WE WENT ALONG AS UNDERCOVER CITY FIRE INSPECTORS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICIALS WALKED INTO THE SANDIA BOWL LOUNGE IN NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE. WE SAW THIS MAN SMOKING IN THE BAR- PUFFING AWAY, DESPITE THE WARNING SIGNS ON THE DOOR. 'jojola: if you chose to smoke, you are in violation of the law.' THE CITY CITED FOUR SMOKERS AT THE LOUNGE AS WELL AS THE BARTENDER, FOR ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SMOKE. EACH FIRST-TIME CITATION A HUNDRED BUCKS. THE OWNER WOULDN'T COMMENT ON CAMERA, BUT OFF CAMERA TOLD US THE BARTENDER SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CITED, BECAUSE HIS WARNING SIGNS ARE ENOUGH. 'they were clearly allowing them to smoke in the establishment.. ' LT. PAUL CHAVEZ WITH THE FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST UNDERCOVER STING LIKE THIS. WEARING A UNIFORM WOULD NOT RESULT IN CITATIONS, HE SAYS. 'before we enter the establishment, someone will inform everybody, and they extinguish the cigarettes before we get in.' NEXT WE WENT INTO THE BIRD OF PARADISE BAR ON GIBSON. INSIDE WE FOUND SEVERAL ASHTRAYS AND THE CITY COUNTED AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE SMOKING. BUT ONLY THE BAR MANAGER WAS CITED---NOT THE SMOKERS---BECAUSE THE BAR DID NOT HAVE 'NO SMOKING'SIGNS. 'I think these may be isolate incidents... but we hope they'll come into compliance ...and it's healthy for everyone involved.' THE OWNER OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE SO FAR HASN'T DECIDED TO SPEAK ON THE RECORD ABOUT THE CITATIONON THE CITY SAYS THE BAR CLAIMS TO BE A CIGAR BAR, BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE OFFICIAL PAPERWORK. THE CITY SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS LIKE THIS. FOR NEARLY A  « Less