Restrictions on where you can smoke are a fact of public life now. Most people are aware that smoking is not allowed in any barn or building on the fairgrounds. It definitely makes sense in our barns with all the straw and wood that's been drying for the past 70 years. There is no smoking in the food court or the grandstands. One area that had not been considered, until now, was the carnival. Several people, some smokers, noticed that little children came awfully close to getting burned by adults carrying their lit cigarettes at kid head level. Yeah, we see how that can be dangerous. It was brought before the Fair Board this past winter and the Board decided to prohibit smoking in the carnival area. The carnival operator has let us know his workers will respect that and be sure to take their smoke breaks away from the rides and public. Thanks to them.

So, where can you smoke on the fairgrounds? Certainly on the paved roads and any grassy area not specifically mentioned as a prohibited area. Will we have smoke police? No. We're counting on the kind of respect and consideration residents of Plumas and Sierra counties are known for. Other fairs have folks from the health department who will point out if someone is smoking in a non-smoking area and pass out patches, gum and pamphlets. Who knows, maybe we can get that together.

I talked with someone from the Marin County Fair where they completely banned smoking on the fairgrounds. They set up a tent just outside the fence for smokers. I suggested they felt ostracized and were probably upset. She reported just the opposite. I guess it turned into the party tent and was overflowing during the event. What do you think of that?
 


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