Violators of smoking ban owe $1.8M

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) - Five years after Ohio enacted a ban on indoor smoking, businesses still owe the state nearly $2 million in fines for violating the law.

The Springfield News-Sun reports businesses statewide have been fined more than $2.74 million since enforcement of the ban began. Ohio Department of health numbers show businesses still owe more than $1.82 million as of Dec. 5.

The ban is currently being challenged before the Ohio Supreme Court by a Columbus bar that says it's unconstitutional.

Health department official Mandy Burkett says a number of businesses just aren't paying their fines.

Burkett says the health department and the Ohio Attorney General's office are trying to improve compliance. The department is turning over some of the unpaid fines to the attorney general's office for collection.