Hundreds of complaints issued about smoking ban - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Eyewitness News has discovered hundreds of complaints against restaurants, bars, and businesses, just two months after a strict smoking ban went into effect.

But despite those complaints, only a handful of tickets have been written so far. Investigators can only write a ticket for a violation if they see it. By the time they check out the tip, the problem - like an ashtray too close to a door - may be gone.

At Hoosier Pub on South Meridian Street, they don't dare light up at the bar.

"We've had people come in 20-30 years and they just forget. It happens," owner David Miller said.

If they light up, they're reminded there's a state smoking ban and reminded that smoking is now only allowed outside in a newly redone courtyard. With ashtrays on the table, the spot is legal as long as it's not near the door.

"It has to be eight feet away and these are at least 16 feet," Miller said.

He's got the required signs up, too. So you won't find Hoosier Pub on the list of 300 complaints alleging violations of the state's smoking ban.

"Most of those are related to smoking in undesignated areas and signage not posted where it needs to be," said Cpl Travis Thickstun, Indiana Excise Police.

As big as Marion County is, it has only seen seven complaints. One brought a warning to the Speedway Moose Lodge.

"The state said we needed to have more signs visible within our room, so I went to the website and copied off some of their signs," said Moose Lodge Governor Greg Sain.

They wish the sign law was clearer.

"We just need to know what we need to do," he said.

Someone even reported the state for a smoking violation downtown.

Rob Wynkoop with the State Department of Administration says the complaint may be people who smoking on a regular basis on state property. It bothers them and they file a complaint.

Workers say they see less smoking around the Statehouse now, thanks to state monitoring.

"People have a right to do what they want to do, but not at the door," said one state worker.

The largest number of complaints has been in Lake County, with 55 complaints reported. In St. Joe County, there have been 47 complaints. Excise Police says that could be because they didn't have local smoking bans before the state ban, so they weren't prepared for it.

Back at Hoosier Pub, Miller says staying violation-free is "easy." But he also says it has easily cost him 40-50 percent of his business.

File a smoking ban complaint