Smoking Ban in full effect

INDIANAPOLIS, IN.(WISH) - Indy's smoking ban is now in full effect.

Friday night was the first night it was “lights out” at Indianapolis bars, hotel rooms, hospitals and bowling alleys.

Suzanne Brown, a server at Mass Avenue Pub, says she doesn’t expect business to suffer because of the smoking ban.

“I don’t think we’ll lose customers. We have lots of loyal customers who will come back all the time,” Brown said.

Donna Lewis and Hanna Deem sat outside on a bench, smoking. “Usually we would be inside… there’s no smoking now, so we’re out here smoking,” explained Lewis.

“It’s warm right now so I’m sure when it gets cold it’ll bother us,” added Lewis. “It bothers me. I like being in bars and being able to smoke,” said Deem.

At some locations downtown, like Massachusetts Avenue, both bars and businesses line the streets.

Some business owners say they’re hoping to remind smokers to put out their lights – in the right spot, when they’re on the sidewalk.

“There’s a lot more people out on the streets smoking, which as a business owner doesn’t look as professional as we would like for it to,” said Tajuana Hill, the owner of the store Mimosa and a Masterpiece.

Don Elliott says cigarette butts are something he dealt with even before the smoking ban.

“Every morning I come out here, and there are cigarette butts. It tells me there are people looking in the windows, but then they throw their cigarette butts down. I’m not sure that’s going to increase, but people should be aware of it,” said Elliott.

But that doesn’t mean Hill for one, is against the ban.

“I love it! I think it’s great to go in a restaurant and not leave smelling like smoke,” said Hill.

Some bar owners tell 24-Hour News 8 they saw more customers Friday night because they were smoke-free. Others say business was slower.

 More than a dozen bars and taverns have filed federal lawsuits against the ban, saying it violates their constitutional rights.