The Metropolitan Police Department has ordered its personnel not to enforce the citywide smoking ban after several officers were accused of harassing restaurants that were not complying with new requirements, officials said.
Not only did the officers not understand the new regulation, officials from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington said, but they aren’t even supposed to be enforcing the law. That’s the job of the D.C. Department of Health, not the police.
Assistant Chief of Police Brian Jordan, who issued the order Monday, said Thursday that the problem appeared to be limited to just a few officers and that they “were set straight” on their responsibilities.
Portions of the recently approved smoking ban went into effect April 3, prohibiting smoking in indoor public places such as restaurant dining areas, offices and apartment lobbies. Tougher regulations banning smoking in bar areas of restaurants, taverns and nightclubs will go into effect on Jan. 1.
Restaurant Association spokesman Patrick Horn said his organization received numerous complaints from restaurant owners in Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan that police officers had begun “inappropriately” visiting local businesses to enforce laws.
The complaints say some officers confiscated ashtrays and matchbooks from restaurant bar areas, incorrectly declaring them “smoking paraphernalia” according to the smoking ban law.
Horn said the association contacted city officials about the issue late last week.
