Complaint-Based Enforcement

The smoking ban, by the numbers:

779 - # of complaints logged in King County since the smoking ban went into effect 16 months ago.

272 - # of visits paid by King County inspectors to bars/restaurants thought to be violating the ban.

111 - # of violations discovered.

How many fines, you wonder? 50? 25? (Drum roll please.....)

Two. Two??? Yes. Two.

Rimrock Steak House on Lake City Way had to pay $300 and a place called Brewsky's Bar and Grill in White Center was charged $200. (First time's a warning, second time's $100, next time it's $200, and so forth.)

King County DOH says this is no accident, that the goal is to educate, not line their pockets. "Our objective is not to issue fines. It's to help them come into compliance with the law and protect people from second-hand smoke," says spokesman James Apa. "If we continue to receive complaints and have ongoing evidence that the facility isn’t taking steps to come into compliance. Only in those cases will we issue a fine."

Like the smoking ban, violations of liquor laws are primarily discovered not by inspection, but through citizen complaint. Consider these numbers revealed this morning by members of the state's liquor control board at a committee meeting to discuss the mayor's nightlife ordinance.

3,500 - # of liquor licensees in King County

4 - # of liquor enforcement officers on patrol during weekend peak hours.

Four??? Yes. Four.

Cue council member Peter Steinbrueck and the following apt observation, "No wonder we have a problem."