Donna Harris

Richardson, TX finally put into place a smoking ban that has been a long time in the making. It started January 1, 2009. It's a typical smoking ban, not like Plano's complete smoking ban.

Something interesting is that the ban specifically says it does not include residential properties, which makes sense since people can do what they want in their home. However, it bans smoking in homes if you run any type of child or adult daycare or healthy care facility. That makes sense as others will be constantly in and out of the home.

No more smoking at public parks or any city events. Awesome! I always end up right in front of or right behind the person smoking and it makes for a miserable time.

Places that can have smoking are restaurants and bars who can show more than 70% of their revenue comes from alcohol. These places must actually submit quarterly reports to the Heath Department. They're going to be strict.

ALso, places that have 50-70% revenue coming from alcohol can make a separate room in their establishment as long as it doesn't open into another establishment or area where smoking is prohibited.

This also includes open patios that are not in walkways or too close to the front door. Enclosed patios are still banned from smoking. The area most be open.

Overall, many people would like to see a more strict smoking ban, but the City of Richardson wants to see how this one works first, and then I'm sure adjustments will be made.

Starting Wednesday, January 7, the city of Richardson, TX will test their outdoor warning system the first Wednesday of each month at high noon for approximately 30 seconds.

This test was running weekly on Wednesdays, and there is no information as to why this was changed to a monthly test, but I'm sure it has something to do with budgets as most things that are cut back these days have to do with money.

The system is set to go off whenever there is a Tornado Warning or severe storms with 70+ mph winds. ALso, if hail is seen at 1.75-2 inches in diameter, the sirens will sound.

However, the City of Richardson wants to make it very clear, as well as I do so you don't depend on my blog for warnings, that you might not be able to hear the sirens during an actual event and to make sure you have alternative methods to get information like a weather radio. I live 4 houses down from a siren, and I very rarely hear it on test days.