With a hidden camera I followed Albuquerque fire inspectors and officials from the Environmental Health Department as they conducted an undercover operation into illegal smoking at Albuquerque bars.They were enforcing the new state law that prohibits smoking in bars (the law went into effect this past June).
You can see the full report here.
I visited two bars that got hit with illegal smoking citations (The Sandia Bowl Lounge and The Bird of Paradise). Four smokers at the Sandia Bowl were busted too.
This was the first time people in Albuquerque have been cited under the state's anti-smoking law and the first undercover operation to enforce the law by city officials.
An APD officer was even there helping out, making sure the guys who were getting citations wouldn't run off.
Some of the smokers that got a 100 dollar citation were quite upset about getting caught. One of them approached one of the inspectors and complained that the city should focus on meth labs rather than the smoking law. I didn't get that on camera, but wish I did.
I suspect the smokers were more angry at themselves rather than the city for getting caught in the act.
The city says these bars have been the subject of numerous complaints from citizens and that it will continue to enforce the law with undercover inspectors.
