A judge is hearing the arguments of bar owners who hope to get rid of the new state law which bans smoking in bars and restaurants. The first witness was Brian Froehlich of Wilton, the president of the Iowa Bar Owners Coalition.
Froehlich told the judge Iowa bar owners are suffering financially because of the smoking ban. He also complained that bar owners have been turned into "policemen," as they required by law to tell patrons that they are not to smoke.
Froehlich admitted to the state prosecutor, who cross examined him, that he has decided not to enforce the law. The bar owners are asking the judge today to suspend the law until their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the smoking ban is finally decided.