Floyd wrote on Sep 26, 2008 7:28 PM:I'm reminded of a quote from one of the Shrek movies: "Do you suppose they're compensating for something?"

Umm.. wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:11 PM:Wow, so that means that they are going to have smoke cops at the driveways? Is there gonna be a pile of butts tossed out at the sidewalk? Or a drive up ash tray? What about Joe Blow who drives up, or all the nervous fathers .. nope, sorry, walk across and stand by the fence along the Highway 78 edge of Vista Way, or in the Blood Bank parking lot.

Inside cars? Thats draconian..

yes Floyd wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:21 PM:They are compensating for something. Compensating for the toxic fumes smokers spew into the environment. Smokers are about 13% of the population, no sympathy, QUIT OR DIE, it is your choice.

Are they still open wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:52 PM:TCMC told us it would close its doors if tax #3 failed and we would all die horrible deaths from stroke, heart attack, and plague. So why do they care if we enjoy a last smoke?

BTW, can we still smoke at the new Wellness Center?

A good move wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:47 PM:This is a smart decision on the part of Tri-City. Nothing worse than approaching a healthcare facility and having to walk through an offensive cloud of smoke before entering the door. It's about time!

rrrr wrote on Sep 27, 2008 4:54 AM:As a non-smoker, I call this rediculous. The medical community is leading the charge to steal away personal freedom under the universal banner of "heath & safety". It's for our own good after all, since we common folk are obviously not equipped to make these decisions for ourselves.

Bill wrote on Sep 27, 2008 6:32 AM:Communism is coming!

I want to see---- wrote on Sep 27, 2008 7:07 AM:Someone tell me I cannot smoke in the vehicle that I pay for!!! There will be one heck of a lawsuit!!!

lady wrote on Sep 27, 2008 7:09 AM:Now this is " To Much",Tri-City needs to solve their own problems 1st,before getting into everyone elses business OR/and cars!!! People are going to do what they want. I hope they have GOOD lawyers,because there WILL BE lawsuits over "someone smoking in their own car" their RIGHT!! So is Tri-City going to be checking for drunks,boose at the parking lot driveway too,breath tests. Booze Affects WAY more people,always has,but TOO much money in TOO many pockets for ANYONE to really deal with the on going Booze problem.. I HOPE SO.... Yes I'm a smoker,yes I drink once or so a year. I'm talking ABOUT more & more "people" having CONTROL issues HERE...

TriCity Employee wrote on Sep 27, 2008 8:24 AM:I agree that smokers should not be allowed to congregate around the entrance to the hospital. There's nothing worse than having to walk through a wall of smoke first thing in the morning. However, telling people they can't smoke in their own cars...Please. This is just another example of administration trying to control EVERY aspect of employees' lives.

Ray wrote on Sep 27, 2008 9:10 AM:I don't work there so does not effect me but I will smoke in my car when I visit my mother and there is nothing they can do about it.

Sue wrote on Sep 27, 2008 10:17 AM:Please read the article or just the headline...it states the smoking ban would apply to employee's cars, not the general public. It makes good sense. I would not want my loved one being cared for by an employee who had just been smoking in their car. The smoky smell is retained in clothing and hair - not a good smell to breathe when you are ill or recovering. Thank you, Tri-City.

Since when... wrote on Sep 27, 2008 10:33 AM:since when did a public building (I guess TCMC is a public building as they asked the tax payers to finance them)get to decide ON THEIR OWN when and where who can smoke on PUBLICALLY OWNED LANDS? Doesn't that require a meeting of a legislative body of some type?

Non-Smoker wrote on Sep 27, 2008 11:21 AM:Wait! They missed something! The employees can still smoke at HOME! The ban is incomplete!

JSten wrote on Sep 27, 2008 11:49 AM:Does Tri-cities have enough spare cash laying around to deal with the fallout from this issue?

Lets see, does this measure empower the Tri-cities rent a cops to conduct car searches? What if someone drives onto the property with a lit cigarette?

I don't smoke but the last time I checked, my car is MY property.

B. Liles LEWIS wrote on Sep 27, 2008 12:12 PM:The Security Department of T.C.M.C. will have a hard time to enforce that new policy

I Wonder... wrote on Sep 27, 2008 12:58 PM:...if they're going to enforce this policy with the doctors. If doctors are still allowed to smoke on the property, there will be a major lawsuit when employees start getting harrassed.

I would be surprised... wrote on Sep 27, 2008 1:55 PM:...if any doctor has the time to stand around smoking!

Trust me... wrote on Sep 27, 2008 2:05 PM:...I know for a fact doctors have time to smoke. Color yourself suprised because I have witnessed it many times over the years.

Opportunity wrote on Sep 27, 2008 2:25 PM:They should allow smoking for a fee. With that money, buy lottery tickets and maybe win enough to enter the world series of poker. If they get first place, they CAN STOP WASTING TIME PUTTING THE HOSPITAL BOND ON THE BALLOT!!!

Gringo wrote on Sep 27, 2008 2:53 PM:You want to smoke in your cars thats fine. Just please, keep your windows rolled up!!!

Mixed Bag wrote on Sep 27, 2008 3:28 PM:People absolutely shouldn't be able to smoke outside the building near any entrance or where patients would walk to gain access. As an asthma sufferer, the last thing I need when I'm having an asthma attack is somebody's smoke blowing in my face on my way to get treatment.

That said, you should be able to smoke in your car all you want ... as long as you keep your butts in your car and don't dump them in the parking lot like I see way too many people doing.

bogie wrote on Sep 27, 2008 4:05 PM:Yeah, what Non-Smoker @ 11:21 AM said.

bogie wrote on Sep 27, 2008 4:11 PM:Is it still okay to smoke medical marijuana on the property? There are a lot of people who actually like the second hand smoke from medical marijuana. As memory serves, if they get too much second hand and not enough first hand, the first hand smoker is called a "bogart".

Are we coming close to the day that people who smoke illegal Mary Jane have more rights than people that smoke legal tobacco? Just wondering.

Joe B wrote on Sep 27, 2008 5:18 PM:Now if they band another bond, we're good!

Floyd wrote on Sep 27, 2008 5:20 PM:I can already see the next big decision by the Tri-City Board: no admittance to the facility if you are sick, because you might infect the staff or even (horrors!) a board member.

bogie asks wrote on Sep 27, 2008 5:24 PM:"Are we coming close to the day that people who smoke illegal Mary Jane have more rights than people that smoke legal tobacco?" No, we're at the day when TriCity employees have few rights. That's nothing new. Why do you think they worked so hard to get union representation?

Deja Vu wrote on Sep 27, 2008 11:39 PM:I predict that there will be a shift in the board's majority. Watch out - things will take a turn for the betterment of the patients, employees, community, and taxpayers -- the board's change will be without Horton, Jewel, Garrahy, and Tweedy.

Change the board!!! Only then will stupid, political, tax the public, give to greedy managers will be curtailed. Get these guys out of here before they break our bank consistent with their patterns at previous places. Finally there will be some fiscal conservatives who get the big picture -- preserve the hospital's integrity and independece.

volvosteel wrote on Sep 28, 2008 12:26 AM:Im getting used to all this, im a smoker and frankly i just dont care anymore, i already move away from door's and hide out when i have a smoke, i even go as far to go behind building's and around corners even if there is an ashtray closer, in fact i see lot's of people doing the same, why do they keep creating law's against smoker's anyway's? were already banned from smokeing any where in public. praticly! i ponder the question constantly why is it that those of you that dont like smokers smoking next to a door just dont ask that person to move futher away?

Please yes Floyd wrote on Sep 28, 2008 2:21 AM:Then TCMC should ban all fatty foods coming on the property or get rid of all the fat nurses.

As a non-smoker and ASTHMATIC, I applaud TCMC for trying to clear the air. But telling them they can't smoke in the car, that's a bit much.

It would be nice if the smokers didn't smoke, because the smell does trigger attacks some times.

There has got to be a better way.

To Since When... wrote on Sep 28, 2008 9:14 AM:Did you read the article? The decision was made by a unanimous vote of a publicly elected board of directors. That is the proper venue for these decisions.

I am totally in support of smoking bans on hospital grounds, but banning smoking in employee cars is a bit much.

Roger wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:11 AM:I don't think the general public should be allowed to smoke in employees' cars either! That's just rude.

Floyd wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:14 AM:Is it just employees who aren't allowed to smoke in employees' cars? Is it OK for me to smoke in employees' cars? It's all so confusing!

CITIZEN AT RISK wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:31 AM:I am better than everyone because I don't smoke, drink, gamble, fool around am green, politically correct and campaigning for Obama Wama.

Actually I am prolonging the life I am not leading.

Nick wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:43 AM:As much as I despise the ACLU, I think it's time to give them a call.....

Dr Mengele wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:53 AM:I don't mind if people smoke as long as they eat the cigarette butts.

Vista Native wrote on Sep 28, 2008 12:58 PM:I don't smoke and do not care to walk into a cloud of smoke but I think this is wrong. The next step is to tell their employees no fast food for lunch. They will be looking in their lunch pails. As for not smoking in their cars, all they have to do is drive down the street and sit in their cars. This is just the first step...other companies will follow and it will be us next. No high heels, tight jeans, dyed hair ect......

Floyd wrote on Sep 28, 2008 2:28 PM:While they're at it, they can ban caffeine because it gives you the shakes and impairs your ability to make rational decisions. No coffee, no colas, no chocolate, not even for board members. That will probably mean no more 24-hour shifts for interns, but they need their sleep anyway.

nic wrote on Sep 28, 2008 3:54 PM:folks! hello.. no one said you can't smoke in your car. All they said was don't smoke on our property. they said not in your car, not on a skate board, not in a wheel chair, not on your feet, NOT ON OUR PROPERTY! do you think when you open your door that all the smoke stays in your car? NO it pollutes the air. And it is not your right to do what you want no matter where you are. Do you think it is healthy for the patients to have their care providers come in from a break smelling like an ash tray? maybe they should tell all employee's that it is not ok to have on the cloths and not shower before seeing patients after being near or smoking themselves. Expecially people with illnesses and ashma that is effected by this! maybe they are getting some brains! and maybe you all should realize that just because your in your car you still have to follow the rules for where you are just like driving laws and anywhere else you go. you don't get to go to a resturant or doctors office and tell them that you should be allowed to smoke while you are there because you are wearing your own shoes or pants so why would it matter if you were in your car when you are on someone's property? you bought your shoes too but they tell you to wear cloths when you go out. I mean think about it not being allowed to smoke anywhere you want is just like being told to use a bathroom not the sidewalk to relieve yourself and that you can't drink while you are at the hospital. get over yourselves with your whole annoying there goes my rights thing. It is everyone elses right to not have you make their decissions to be exposed to unhealthy disgusting habbits you take up.

nic wrote on Sep 28, 2008 4:10 PM:oh and to those of you that ask why non smokers don't just ask smokers to move away when their near doors and get over ourselves? because we have already breathed your nasty 2nd hand smoke at that point and then for some of us we are already up for the night giving our kids breathing treatments because GOD forbid they had the oddasity to be born prematurly and have lung issues! why would anyone be offended that they have to keep their kids in a bubble even when they need to get to a hospital? I mean if I was told that there were babies or even grown people that would get sick, die of cancer, have severe medical problems from something I liked to do, I would surely make sure to do it at my home or something. maybe you all should wear a patch when you go out. when you smoke you take the choice of not putting that in our bodies away from us and that is our right and when you are told not to smoke we only take away your right when you are around us.. go home give your own kids medical problems! (I WOULDN'T REALLY WANT YOU TO) but don't take that choice from the rest of us.

N wrote on Sep 28, 2008 4:13 PM:Oh and I don't think they are actually saying don't smoke in your cars. they are saying don't smoke here and if your car is here... still don't smoke here even if you sit in your car.. your car is still here. and make they shower if they go smoke.. I would rather they peed or pucked on them selves and assisted me!

Bob wrote on Sep 28, 2008 5:21 PM:Vista Native is right!

My company alteady won't let me wear high heels.

Marilyn wrote on Sep 28, 2008 5:24 PM:As a former 2 pack a day smoker my suggestion is to send anyone that wants to go to a hypnotherapy session for smoking cessestaion.I did this in Escondido and after 1 hour I have not for one second needed a cigarette. It's fabulous.
So instead of complaining chip in, take up a collection /check to see if your insurer will pay and send these addicts to hypnotherapy.
No one will be sorry.
The best part of it is,you will not have to go thru withdrawls.It's as if you never smoked.It's the hand reaching out to help you up from the addiction of smoking.Help them.PLEASE

No Odors wrote on Sep 28, 2008 6:32 PM:There's a difference between second hand smoke and the odor of cigarette smoke. And there are no studies that link cigarette odor to dangerous health hazards. I hate cigarette odor. I also don't like bad breath, body odor and strong perfumes. I think we should have EVERYONE go through a sterilizer before being allowed to enter hospital grounds so I don't have to smell ANY of those offensive odors.

anti cigs wrote on Sep 28, 2008 6:51 PM:To "I want to see" If you smokers enjoy your smoke so much why is it I see way too many hands hanging out the cracked down windows in between puffs? Is it because you don't want to wreck the inside of your car with the smell? I would think you could get more bang for your buck by keeping the windows up!Keep all that lovely smoke and smell to yourself. Or why do you toss your butts out onto the street? I have been so tempted to get out of my car pick up the butt and toss it back into your car, except it would probably cause a car fire. And I would be the one getting in trouble!

HoJo wrote on Sep 29, 2008 8:21 PM:It would be nice if they could extend it across the street to the imaging building. Smokers are often seen on the landing numerous times of the day, with their BBQ's blowing into the wind by the upper Doctor offices!!!