LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY FOOD AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION ON TRANSFER V. LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT ; LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS : PAUL BROOKS ; FRED BROWN ; GEORGE BROWN, JR . ; BILL CEGELKA ; DICK DeCAMP, JR . ; CHUCK ELLINGER II ; BILL FARMER, JR . ; LINDA GORTON ; GLORIA MARTIN ; AL MITCHELL ; JENNIFER MOSSOTTI ; SANDY SHAFER ; DAVID B . STEVENS M .D . ; JACQUES WIGGINTON, JR . ; MIKE SCANLON, Vice Mayor of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and as member of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council ; TERESA ANN ISAAC, in her official LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH & CHARLES GORTON, as Acting Commissioner of Fayette County Board of Health ; LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
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2003-SC-0978-TG
LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY FOOD
AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION
ON TRANSFER FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS
2003-CA-2519-MR
FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT NO . 03-CI-3812
V.
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
GOVERNMENT;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS :
PAUL BROOKS ; FRED BROWN;
GEORGE BROWN, JR . ; BILL CEGELKA;
DICK DeCAMP, JR.; CHUCK ELLINGER
II ; BILL FARMER, JR. ; LINDA GORTON;
GLORIA MARTIN ; AL MITCHELL ;
JENNIFER MOSSOTTI ; SANDY SHAFER;
DAVID B. STEVENS M .D . ; JACQUES
WIGGINTON, JR . ;
MIKE SCANLON, Vice Mayor of
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Government and as member of the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council ;
TERESA ANN ISAAC, in her official
capacity as Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH & CHARLES
GORTON, as Acting Commissioner of
Fayette County Board of Health;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
AND
APPELLEES
2003-SC-0990-1
LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY FOOD
AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION
V.
MOVANT
ON MOTION FOR CR 65 .09 RELIEF
2003-CA-2519-MR
FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT NO. 03-CI-3812
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
GOVERNMENT ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
COUNCIL AND ITS MEMBERS :
PAUL BROOKS ; FRED BROWN ;
GEORGE BROWN, JR . ; BILL CEGELKA ;
DICK DeCAMP, JR. ; CHUCK ELLINGER
li ; BILL FARMER, JR. ; LINDA GORTON ;
GLORIA MARTIN ; AL MITCHELL ;
JENNIFER MOSSOTTI ; SANDY SHAFER ;
DAVID B. STEVENS M.D. ; JACQUES
WIGGINTON, JR . ;
MIKE SCANLON, Vice Mayor of
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Government and as member of the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council ;
TERESA ANN ISAAC, in her official
capacity as Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH & CHARLES
GORTON, as Acting Commissioner of
Fayette County Board of Health ;
CHARLES GORTON, as Acting
Commissioner of the Lexington-Fayette
Urban County Board of Health
RESPONDENTS
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE COURT BY JUSTICE WINTERSHEIMER
AFFIRMING IN PART, REVERSING IN PART, AND REMANDING 2003-SC-0978-TG
AND
GRANTING IN PART, DENYING IN PART AND REMANDING 2003-SC-0990 -1
This appeal is from an opinion and order of the Fayette Circuit Court which
sustained a motion by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for a summary
judgment and denied a motion for summary judgment from the Lexington Fayette
County Food and Beverage Association . The effect was to have the complaint of the
Food and Beverage Association dismissed and the temporary injunction dissolved . The
Court of Appeals denied the motion of the Food and Beverage Association for
emergency injunctive relief. Ultimately, this Court accepted transfer of the appeal.
The principal issue is whether the authority of local government to regulate
smoking in business places of public accommodation is preempted by state law.
Stated differently, the question is whether a local government has the authority to enact
an ordinance which prohibits smoking in public buildings for the purpose of protecting
the public from the effects of second-hand smoke inhalation. In order to decide this
matter, we must consider whether an ordinance of this nature is a proper exercise of
police powers and whether or not a local government is preempted by state law from
enforcing such an ordinance. The resolution of this matter turns on an issue of law.
The significant arguments of the Food and Beverage Association are that the
ordinance is preempted by various state statutes and regulations ; that the ordinance
violates the right to conduct a private business ; and that parts of the ordinance are
vague, and thus the entire ordinance is invalid . Also raised in this appeal is the
question of whether it was error for the circuit judge to deny a motion by the association
for default judgment.
This case is not about whether the decision of a local government to enact
smoking restrictions is a sound policy matter. Such policy questions are completely
within the province of the local legislative body and we do not find it necessary to review
that decision in this matter . Any dissatisfaction can be raised at the ballot box.
The history of this case indicates that the urban county government established
a task force and a committee to review health studies and public attitudes . Both of
these groups reported that there was evidence of adverse health effects resulting from
the exposure to second-hand smoke . Public hearings and public debate was extensive .
After exhaustive investigation, the urban county government enacted an ordinance to
minimize, if not entirely eliminate, the exposure of the public to such a risk.
On July 1, 2003, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council adopted an
ordinance which effectively bans smoking in any enclosed building open to the public
with certain limited exceptions such as dwellings and government buildings . The
ordinance eliminated smoking in all restaurants and bars in the county, including cigar
bars, nightclubs and taverns .
1 . Preemption
The association argues that the smoking ban ordinance is preempted by superior
state law . We disagree .
It has long been recognized that a municipal corporation, pursuant to its police
power, has wide latitude to adopt ordinances which promote the health, safety, morals
or general welfare of the people. U .S . Mining & Exploration Natural Resources Co ., Inc .
v. City of Beattyville , Ky., 548 S .W.2d 833 (1977) . Among the police powers of
government, the authority to promote and safeguard public health is a high priority.
Graybeal v. McNevin, Ky., 439 S.W .2d 323 (1969). In Gravbeal , supra , this Court
upheld the fluoridation of the public water supply of the City of Somerset. Accordingly,
a prohibition on smoking and the accompanying result of second-hand smoke, is well
within the traditionally recognized authority of local government as a health matter.
In 1980, the General Assembly enacted various legislation known commonly as
"home rule" which permitted cities to act without specific statutory authorization . Cf.
Historic Licking Riverside Civic Ass'n v. City of Covington , Ky., 774 S .W.2d 436 (1989) .
KRS 82.082, which is applicable to the urban county government because of its status
as a city pursuant to KRS 67A.060, provides that a city may exercise any power and
perform any function within its boundaries that is in furtherance of a public purpose and
not in conflict with constitutional or statutory law.
More directly, KRS 67A.070 regulates the legislative authority of urban county
government. It provides in pertinent part:
(1) Urban-county governments may enact and enforce within their
territorial limits such tax, licensing, police, sanitary and other ordinances
not in conflict with the Constitution and general statutes of this state now
or hereafter enacted, as they shall deem requisite for the health,
education, safety, welfare and convenience of the inhabitants of the
county and for the effective administration of urban-county government.
(2) Urban-county government ordinances shall be deemed to
conflict with general statutes of this state only: (a) When the ordinance
authorizes that which is expressly prohibited by a general statute; or (b)
When there is a comprehensive scheme of legislation on the same
subject embodied in a general statute .
KRS 67A .070(2)(a) is a type of direct preemption in that an ordinance may be
expressly prohibited by a general statute or when there is a comprehensive scheme of
legislation .
The mere presence of the state in a particular area of the law or regulation will
not automatically eliminate local authority to enact appropriate regulations . Local
regulation is not always precluded simply because the legislature has taken some
action in regard to the same subject . For an extensive discussion of this question, see
Fireman's Ins. Co . of Washington, D.C. v. Washington , 483 F.2d 1323 (C.A.D.C. 1973)
and Maryland and District of Columbia Rifle and Pistol Ass'n v. Washington, 442 F .2d
123 (C.A.D.C. 1971) .
The true test of the concurrent authority of the state and local government to
regulate a particular area is the absence of conflict. The simple fact that the state has
made certain regulations does not prohibit local government from establishing
additional requirements so long as there is no conflict between them . Cf.
Commonwealth v. Do, Inc . , Ky., 674 S .W .2d 519 (1984); Adams, Inc. v. Louisville and
Jefferson County Bd . of Health , Ky ., 439 S .W .2d 586 (1969), which held that there is
perhaps no broader field of police power than that of public health. The constitutional
limitation upon the exercise of police power to regulate health is a matter of
reasonableness . Concurrent local regulation is valid unless it is unreasonable and
oppressive and conflicts with state regulation . City of Ashland v. Ashland Suppler Co . ,
225 Ky. 123, 7 S .W.2d 833 (1928),
A careful examination of the record and ordinance in this case as compared to
the statutes and regulations involved indicates that the local authority has not adopted
an ordinance which conflicts with any statute or regulation in the individual fields sought
to be controlled . See Do, Inc. , supra . Protecting the public from exposure to
environmental tobacco smoke, sometimes known as second-hand smoke, can be the
proper object of the police power of local government . The exercise of police power for
the purpose of protecting the public health has been termed "the law of overruling
necessity ." See 7 McQuillen Municipal Corporations §24.221 (3d Ed . 1986) . This Court
has held on several occasions that the protection of public health is uniformly
recognized as a most important municipal function . "It is not only a right but a manifest
duty of a city ." Nourse v. City of Russellville , 257 Ky., 525, 78 S.W .2d 761, 764 (1935) .
See also Shaeffler v. City of Park Hills , Ky., 279 S.W.2d 21 (1955) ; Graybeal .
In regard to any potential conflict between the ordinance and KRS 438 .300 as
well as subsequent statutory provisions found in KRS 438 .305 to 438 .340, we have
determined that those statutes deal almost exclusively with prohibiting the sale,
distribution and use of tobacco products to or by persons under the age of 18 . We
agree with the circuit judge that the legislature intended to preempt any local
ordinances which would contravene the terms of the statutes in question insofar as any
local ordinances might make it easier to acquire tobacco products . KRS 438.300 does
not preempt the use of a local ordinance which serves to prohibit the use of tobacco
products in public places by anyone.
It is a primary rule of statutory construction that no single word or sentence
determines the meaning of a statute . Rather, the statute as a whole must be
considered . See County of Harlan v. Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc . , Ky., 85
S .W .3d 607 (2002). Here, there is nothing in the statutes involving youth smoking
which conflict with the ordinance .
The contention that KRS 217.005 to 217 .215, known as the "Kentucky Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act," and 902 KAR 45 :005, known as the "Retail Food Code"
expressly preempt this ordinance is without merit . Although the regulation contains
language that the function of the regulation is to establish a uniform code for the
regulation of all food service establishments and retail food stores for the purpose of
protecting public health, the clear purpose of that regulation is to govern the food
preparation and delivery in the state . Smoking is only considered insofar as the use of
tobacco might affect food preparation and delivery.
There are no state statutes or regulations that expressly relate to indoor smoking
and there is no declaration that indoor smoking is within the purview of the retail food
code . There is no provision of that code which requires a business to permit employees
or customers to smoke . As noted earlier, KRS 438.300, and the following statutes are
designed to prevent the sale and distribution of tobacco to persons under the age of 18.
The statutes are silent in regard to the use of the tobacco products, but only proscribed
sale and distribution . There is no conflict .
We must also reject the contention that preemption is implied even though not
expressed . In a case involving medical products liability claims, this Court stated that,
"Implied preemption occurs when the state law actually conflicts with federal law or
where the federal law so thoroughly occupies the legislative field that it may be
reasonably inferred that Congress left no room for the state to supplement it." Niehoff
v. Surgidev Corp . , Ky., 950 S .W.2d 820 (1997). Here, KRS 67A.070(2) accurately
reflects the general standard governing preemption .
Implied preemption is considered to be a comprehensive system of legislation on
the same subject embodied in a general state statute . The association presents five
separate statutory provisions which touch on smoking in support of its argument. They
are : (1) KRS 217.005 to 217 .215, called the "Kentucky Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act"
and 902 KAR 45 :005, called the "Retail Food Code"; 2) KRS 61 .165, which governs
smoking policy for all state and local government offices ; (3) KRS 56.463, which
authorizes the Finance and Administration Cabinet to adopt administrative regulations
controlling state-owned and leased buildings and 200 KAR 6 :045, which permits the
designation of smoking and nonsmoking areas in public facilities ; (4) KRS 438 .050,
which provides for fines for anyone smoking on school premises except in designated
smoking areas ; and (5) KRS 196.245, which authorizes the Commissioner of the
Department of Corrections to prohibit or permit smoking by inmates .
Again, we must agree with the circuit judge that the statutes presented are not a
comprehensive system of legislation on smoking but are a collection of various statutes
that mention smoking in a specific context . It cannot be said that the urban county
ordinance conflicts with any comprehensive system of legislation on the same subject
which is embodied in a general statute . From a municipal legislative point of view, the
ordinance is not aimed solely at restaurants or bars. The provisions apply to "any
building open to the public" with certain defined exceptions .
The authorities cited by the association, Boyle v. Campbell, Ky., 450 S .W .2d 265
(1970), and Commonwealth v. Telcom Directories, Inc. , Ky., 806 S.W .2d 638 (1991) are
unpersuasive. Boyle , supra , held that the Sunday closing law was preempted because
it directly contradicted state law. Telcom, supra, held that the federal postal laws did
not preempt the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act despite the existence of federal law
that not only directly and expressly regulated the conduct at issue, but also provided
different remedies for the prohibited conduct. Citation by the association to foreign
legal authorities is equally unconvincing .
When the legislature seeks to expressly preempt entire fields of local regulation
and ordinance, it does so by clear and unmistakable language . There is no clear
expression of prohibition in regard to this case, and there is no implied expression of
prohibition which arises to the level of a conflict between the ordinance and state law.
11 . Property Right
The association complains that the ordinance is invalid because it infringes on
the right of business owners to conduct their business without impermissible
interference from government. They claim that the ordinance dictates the character of
their business under the guise of promoting public health and that certain businesses
which attract large numbers of smokers may suffer economic harm and may be forced
to close .
There is a long history of Kentucky precedent that is contrary to the arguments
presented by the association . The fact that an exercise of police power impinges upon
private interest does not restrict reasonable regulation . Adams, Inc . , supra . As noted
earlier, among the police powers of the government, the power to promote and
safeguard public health ranks at the top . Graybeal . If the right of an individual runs
afoul of the exercise of this power, the right of the individual must yield . Frederick v. Air
Pollution Control Dist. of Jefferson County, Ky., 783 S.W .2d 391 (1990); See also Do,
Inc . ; Graybeal, City of Louisville v. Thompson , Ky., 339 S .W.2d 869 (1960); Sanitation
District No . 1 of Jefferson County v. Campbell , Ky., 249 S .W.2d 767 (1952); . Nourse ,
supra ; Tolliver v. Blizzard , 143 Ky. 773, 137 S .W . 509 (1911).
"There is perhaps no broader field of police power than that of public health ."
Adams, Inc . , at 589. "It is thus apparent that, insofar as public health is concerned,
private property may become of public interest and the constitutional limitations upon
the exercise of that power of regulation come down to a question of 'reasonability'."
Adams Inc. , at 590 . The real issue is whether the public health regulation is
10
reasonable . See U .S. Mining & Exploration Natural Resources Co ., Inc . , supra . In this
case, we must conclude that it is. Both federal and state courts have determined
numerous times that where public interest is involved it is to be preferred over property
interests even to the extent of destruction if necessary. See Mansbach Scrap Iron Co .
v. City of Ashland , 235 Ky. 265, 30 S.W.2d 968 (1930), citing Miller v. Schoene , 276
U.S . 272, 48 S .Ct. 246, 72 L.Ed . 568 (1928) .
In this situation the urban county government considered lengthy public hearings
at which evidence of the problems connected with the use of tobacco products and
second-hand smoke were extensively discussed by all sides to the controversy .
Evidence was presented that used objective sales data to the effect that "no adverse
economic effect" or "improved business" was found . The smoking ordinance is not an
improper infringement upon property rights .
III . Vagueness
A. "Reasonable Distance"
The association contends that the ordinance is vague because it requires that
smokers must maintain a "reasonable distance from the outside entrance of any
building" and thus requires enforcement to be based on a subjective determination of
compliance . However, the mandate of "reasonable distance" is modified by the
objective goal of keeping the interior of the building free from tobacco smoke. The
ordinance requires that the smoke not enter the building through the entrances,
windows, ventilation systems or other means .
As long as an ordinance or statute can be reasonably understood by those
affected by the ordinance and they can reasonably understand what the statute
requires of them, it is not unconstitutionally vague . See Gurnee v. Lexin tog n-Fa rette
Urban County Government , Ky.App ., 6 S.W.3d 852 (1999). Vagueness involves a
"man on the street" approach . The challenged statute must provide "fair warning" to the
public and "explicit standards" for those who apply it in order to pass constitutional
muster. Hardin v. Commonwealth , Ky., 573 S.W .2d 657 (1978) . Surely, individuals can
reasonably understand that if their tobacco smoke is entering the building they are not
at a reasonable or required distance .
B. Smoking Paraphernalia
The association also raises a void-for-vagueness challenge to the subsection of
the ordinance that provides, "[a]II ashtrays and other smoking paraphernalia shall be
removed from any area where smoking is prohibited by Sections 14-97 to 14-104 and
shall not be permitted by the owner, operator, manager, or other person having control
of the establishment[ .J" Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code of Ordinances § 1499(3) .
We agree with the association that Section 14-99(3) is unconstitutionally vague
because the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council has failed to define or otherwise
clarify the meaning of "smoking paraphernalia," and, consequently, entities that are
subject to the ordinance will have to rely on conjecture, speculation, and guesswork
when they attempt to bring themselves into compliance by removing "smoking
paraphernalia" from their premises . In doing so, we observe that the association's brief
appears to correctly construe the scope of Section 14-99(3), i.e. , "[e]ach and every
affected business, whether it is a restaurant that sells cigarettes and matches from
behind the bar, a liquor store that contains a small cigar and accessories shop, or
Kroger and Wal-Mart, must remove any and all items qualifying as `paraphernalia' from
within its premises or be subject to prosecution by the Appellees." The urban county
government's protestations that the Lexington- Fayette County Health Department has
12
no intention of enforcing the statute in this manner are not relevant to the construction
of the provision as enacted . The "plain meaning rule" tells us that the best indication of
the council's intent is the language of Section 14-99(3) itself. See , e.g_, Griffin v. City of
Bowling Green, Ky., 458 S.W.2d 456, 457 (1970) ("Where the words used in a statute
are clear and unambiguous and express the legislative intent, there is no room for
construction and the statute must be accepted as it is written ."). And, Section 14-99(3)
expressly and unequivocally requires the removal of "ashtrays and other smoking
paraphernalia" from any building that is not exempted under Section 14-98(1)(a)-(g) .
The council could easily rectify the discontinuity between what Section 14-99(3) says
and how they intend to enforce it by appropriately defining "smoking paraphernalia" and
amending Section 14-99(3) to require the removal of "smoking paraphernalia intended
for use on the premises from any area where smoking is prohibited by Sections 14-97
to 14-104[ .]"
"[A] proper analysis of a statute claimed to be facially unconstitutional for
vagueness is whether a person disposed to obey the law could determine with
reasonable certainty from the language used whether contemplated conduct would
amount to a violation ." Commonwealth v. Foley, Ky., 798 S .W .2d 947, 951 (1990),
overruled on other grounds by Martin v. Commonwealth , Ky., 96 S .W.3d 38 (2003).
See also Gurnee , supra at 856 (1999) ("The fact that a statute . . . is susceptible to
more than one interpretation does not require a holding that the statute is
unconstitutional if, as the circuit court determined, those who are affected by the statute
can reasonably understand what the statute requires of them.") ; Sasaki v.
Commonwealth , Ky., 485 S .W.2d 897, 901 (1972) ("The accepted test in determining
the required precision of statutory language imposing criminal liability is whether the
13
language conveys a sufficiently definite warning as to the proscribed conduct when
measured by common understanding and practices."). The "void for vagueness"
doctrine, therefore, attempts to ensure fairness by requiring an enactment to provide :
(1) "fair notice" to persons and entities subject to it regarding what conduct it prohibits ;
and (2) sufficient standards to those charged with enforcing it so as to avoid arbitrary
and discriminatory application . State Board for Elementary Education v. Howard , Ky.,
834 S.W .2d 657, 662 (1992) ("In reviewing the standard for vagueness, this Court and
the United States Supreme Court have followed two general principles underlying the
concept of vagueness . First, a statute is impermissibly vague if it does not place
someone to whom it applies on actual notice as to what conduct is prohibited ; and
second, a statute is impermissibly vague if it is written in a manner that encourages
arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement."); Hardin , supra at 660; Commonwealth v.
Kash , Ky. App., 967 S.W.2d 37, 42 (1997) ("The void-for-vagueness doctrine emanates
from the due process provisions of the United States and Kentucky Constitutions . To
survive vagueness analysis a statute must provide `fair notice' of prohibited conduct and
contain 'reason-ably clear' [sic] guidelines to thwart 'arbitrary and discriminatory
enforcement."' (citations omitted)); Raines v. Commonwealth , Ky. App., 731 S .W .2d 3,
4 (1987). Section 14-99(3), as written, flunks the so-called "man on the street" test and
provides insufficient guidance for both those entities seeking to comply with it and those
directed to enforce it.
"Paraphernalia" is defined, generally, as "[t]he articles used in a particular
activity; equipment," American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4 t" ed.
2000), and "[a]ppendages ; ornaments ; finery; equipments[ .]" Webster's Revised
Unabridged Dictionary_ (1998). Thus, we can infer a "working definition" of "smoking
14
paraphernalia" as "the articles or equipment used to smoke ." The void-for-vagueness
problem presented here is that the reasonable parameters of exactly what constitutes
such equipment are unstated and potentially boundless . Although Section 14-99(3)
identifies "ashtrays" as one type of "smoking paraphernalia," it offers no other guidance
as to what else might constitute such paraphernalia . And "smoking paraphernalia"
could reasonably be interpreted to include any or all of the following: cigarettes, cigars,
pipes, rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco, rolling papers and cigarette tubes (with or without
filters), rolling machines, pipe tampers, pipe cleaners, pipe brushes, pipe covers and
screens, cigarette and cigar cases, cigarette holders, humidors, humidifiers and
hygrometers, cigar cutters, matches, lighters, butane lighter fluid, flints, cigarette
snuffers, air freshener, breath mints, and smoking jackets . Although "the Constitution
does not require impracticable or impossible standards of specificity[,]" Sasaki , supra at
901, or "idealistic perfection in preciseness," Colten , supra at 374, "criminal statutes
must be sufficiently specific that an individual has fair notice of what conduct is
forbidden ." Kash , supra at 43. Section 14-99(3) falls short of such specificity.
On two (2) separate occasions, the United States Supreme Court has
considered void-for-vagueness challenges to criminal enactments relating to drug
paraphernalia . And, although the Court rejected the constitutional challenge in each
case, the statutes at issue went far beyond Section 14-99(3) in their efforts to define the
types of paraphernalia prohibited . In Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates,
Inc . , 455 U .S. 489, 102 S .Ct. 1186, 71 L.Ed .2d 362 (1982), the Court addressed a
challenge to an ordinance that required businesses to obtain a license if they sold any
items that are "designed or marketed for use with illegal cannabis or drugs" and was
accompanied by "[a] series of licensing guidelines prepared by the Village Attorney
15
[that] define[d] 'Paper,' 'Roach Clips,' 'Pipes,' and 'Paraphernalia,' the sale of which
[was] required to be licensed ." Id ., 455 U .S . at 492, 102 S .Ct. at
, 71 L.Ed .2d at 368 .
The Court found the ordinance to be "sufficiently clear," Id ., 455 U .S . at 500, 102 S.Ct .
at
, 71 L.Ed.2d at 372, but remarked in a footnote that "[w]e agree with the Court of
Appeals that a regulation of 'paraphernalia' alone would not provide much warning of
the nature of the items regulated ." Id ., 455 U .S . at 500 n .17, 102 S .Ct. at
n .17, 71
L .Ed .2d at 373 n .17. Later, in Posters 'N' Things v. United States , 511 U .S. 513, 114
S .Ct. 1747, 128 L .Ed .2d 539 (1994), the Court considered a similar challenge to the
Mail Order Drug Paraphernalia Control Act, 21 U .S.C. § 857, which contained a lengthy
definition of "drug paraphernalia," Id ., 511 U .S . at 517 n .6, 114 S.Ct. at
L .Ed .2d at 547 n .6 ; Id ., 511 U .S . at 519 n .7, 114 S .Ct. at
n .6, 128
n.7, 128 L.Ed .2d at 548
n .7, which is similar to those found in Kentucky's Controlled Substances Act. See KRS
218A .500 ; KRS 218A.510 . The Court agreed "that § 857(d) establishes objective
standards for determining what constitutes drug paraphernalia," Posters 'N' Things ,
supra at 511 U.S . at 518, 114 S .Ct . at -, 128 L.Ed .2d at 547, and thus rejected the
void-for-vagueness challenge :
Petitioners argue that § 857 is unconstitutionally vague as
applied to them in this case . "[T]he void-for-vagueness
doctrine requires that a penal statute define the criminal
offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can
understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that
does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory
enforcement." Whatever its status as a general matter, we
cannot say that § 857 is unconstitutionally vague as applied
in this case .
First, the list of items in § 857(d) constituting per se drug
paraphernalia provides individuals and law enforcement
officers with relatively clear guidelines as to prohibited
conduct. With respect to the listed items, there can be little
doubt that the statute is sufficiently determinate to meet
constitutional requirements . Many items involved in this
case - including bongs, roach clips, and pipes designed for
16
use with illegal drugs - are among the items specifically
listed in § 857(d) .
Second, § 857(e) sets forth objective criteria for assessing
whether items constitute drug paraphernalia . These factors
minimize the possibility of arbitrary enforcement and assist
in defining the sphere of prohibited conduct under the
statute. Section 857(f)'s exemption for tobacco-related
products further limits the scope of the statute and precludes
its enforcement against legitimate sellers of lawful products .
Finally, the scienter requirement that we have inferred in
§857 assists in avoiding any vagueness problem . . . .
Id . at 511 U .S . at 525-26, 114 S .Ct. at
, 128 L .Ed .2d at 551-52 .
Unlike the enactments at issue in Hoffman Estates and Posters 'N' Things,
Section 14-99(3) gives no guidance beyond the words "smoking paraphernalia ."
Although it is likely a fair assumption that the ordinance is intended to require the
covered entities to remove direct "smoking paraphernalia" such as cigarettes and
cigars, but not breath mints and air freshener, "[I]ying between those extremes . . . is a
vast middle ground which is subject to characterization as lawful or unlawful in the
discretion," Foley, supra at 950, of the enforcing authorities . Because the entities
subject to the ordinance have no means to reasonably predict the scope of "smoking
paraphernalia" that they must remove, Section
14-99(3)
is void-for-vagueness . The
invalidity of Section 14-99(3), however, does not render the entire ordinance invalid
because the code contains a severability provision, § 1-5, and it is clear that the
remainder of the smoking ban ordinance is "not so essentially and inseparably
connected with and dependant upon [Section
14-99(3)]
that the [council] would not
have enacted the valid provisions without the invalid provisions ." Martin , supra at 58 .
Accordingly, we grant partial CR 65 .09 relief, reverse the trial court's summary
judgment for the urban county government in part, and remand the case for entry of
judgment declaring Section 14-99(3) unconstitutional and enjoining its enforcement.
17
IV. Default Judgment
The association argues that the circuit judge erred in denying the motion by the
association for default judgment. It claims that it is entitled to default judgment because
the urban county government failed to file a responsive pleading of any kind . It
contends that the association's amended complaint authorized by the circuit judge is of
no consequence because the urban county government was in default at the expiration
of ten days after the filing of the amended complaint .
In this circumstance, it would have been an abuse of discretion if the circuit judge
had granted the motion for default judgment. The urban county government was not in
default because it had briefed the issues on the merits in compliance with the
applicable court orders . The argument that every complaint requires an answer even if
a motion to dismiss is filed and granted does not consider the effect of CR 12 .01 and
applicable case law. The service of a motion permitted under Rule 12 alters the
periods of time unless a different time is fixed by order of the court. Consequently, the
filing of a CR 12 .02 motion tolls the running of time in which to file an answer.
Carnahan v. Yocom , Ky., 526 S .W .2d 301 (1975). The treatment of a motion to dismiss
as a summary judgment motion does not alter the tolling provisions of the civil rule. Cf.
F.D .1 .C . v. Heidrick , 812 F .Supp . 586 (D. Md . 1992). The tolling period never began to
run because the motion to dismiss was granted . Whether the motion by the urban
county government was considered as a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary
judgment, CR 55.01 provides that a party may apply for default judgment when the
opposing party fails to plead or "otherwise defend" as provided by the rules. The urban
county government did defend and, therefore, an entry of default judgment would have
been inappropriate pursuant to CR 55 .01 .
18
For the above reasons, as to Section 14-99(3), we grant partial CR 65 .09 relief,
reverse the trial court's summary judgment for urban county government in part, and
remand the case for entry of judgment declaring Section 14-99(3) unconstitutional and
enjoining its enforcement . As to the remainder of the ordinance, we deny CR 65.09
relief and affirm the trial court's summary judgment for the urban county government .
Accordingly, the ordinance banning smoking in public places is permitted to go into
effect .
All concur, except Graves, J., who dissents by separate opinion .
ENTERED : April 22, 2004
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT :
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEES :
John W . Walters
Michael T. Davis
GOLDEN & WALTERS, PLLC
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 905
Lexington, KY 40503
Theresa L. Holmes
Leslye M . Bowman
Lexington-Fayette Urban
County Government Bldg .
200 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507
Margaret A . Miller
Phillip D. Scott
David Austin French
Brian Michael Johnson
GREENBAUM DOLL & McDONALD PLLC
300 West Vine Street, Suite 1100
Lexington, KY 40507
COUNSEL FOR AMICUS CURIAE:
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ;
KENTUCKY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ;
AMERICANS FOR NONSMOKERS'
RIGHTS ; NATIONAL CENTER FOR
TOBACCO-FREE KIDS ; TOBACCO
CONTROL LEGAL CONSORTIUM :
Joe C. Savage
SAVAGE, ELLIOTT, MOORE, MULLINS &
ERDMANN, LLP
PNC Bank Building, Suite 810
200 West Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507
COUNSEL FOR AMICUS CURIAE :
LEXINGTON HEALTH UNITED:
Peter Everett Brown
201 West Short Street , Suite 310
Lexington, KY 40507
COUNSEL FOR AMICUS CURIAE :
KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF CITIES :
William A . Thielen
3129 Blenheim Way
Lexington, KY 40503
James Donald Chaney
151 Shoreside Drive #11207
Lexington, KY 40515
TO BE PUBLISHED
,Suprmt (gaurf of
mfuxkV
2003-SC-0978-TG
LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
ASSOCIATION
V.
APPELLANT
ON TRANSFER FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS
2003-CA-2519-MR
FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT NO . 03-CI-3812
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY GOVERNMENT;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AND ITS
MEMBERS :
PAUL BROOKS ; FRED BROWN ;
GEORGE BROWN, JR.; BILL
CEGELKA; DICK DeCAMP, JR . ;
CHUCK ELLINGER II ; BILL FARMER,
JR . ; LINDA GORTON ; GLORIA
MARTIN ; AL MITCHELL ; JENNIFER
MOSSOTTI ; SANDY SHAFER ; DAVID
B. STEVENS M .D. ; JACQUES
WIGGINTON, JR . ;
MIKE SCANLON, Vice Mayor of
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Government and as member of the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Council ;
TERESA ANN ISAAC, in her official
capacity as Mayor of Lexington,
Kentucky ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH &
CHARLES GORTON, as Acting
Commissioner of Fayette County Board
of Health ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
APPELLEES
AND
2003-SC-0990-1
MOVANT
LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
ASSOCIATION
V.
ON MOTION FOR CR 65 .09 RELIEF
2003-CA-2519-MR
FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT NO. 03-CI-3812
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY GOVERNMENT ;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY COUNCIL AND ITS
MEMBERS :
PAUL BROOKS ; FRED BROWN ;
GEORGE BROWN, JR . ; BILL
CEGELKA; DICK DeCAMP, JR . CHUCK ELLINGER II ; BILL FARMER,
JR. - LINDA GORTON ; GLORIA
MARTIN ; AL MITCHELL ; JENNIFER
MOSSOTTI ; SANDY SHAFER ; DAVID
B. STEVENS M.D. ; JACQUES
WIGGINTON, JR . ;
MIKE SCANLON, Vice Mayor of
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Government and as member of the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Council ;
TERESA ANN ISAAC, in her official
capacity as Mayor of Lexington,
Kentucky;
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH &
CHARLES GORTON, as Acting
Commissioner of Fayette County Board
of Health ;
CHARLES GORTON, as Acting
Commissioner of the Lexington -Fayette
RESPONDENTS
Urban County Board of Health
DISSENTING OPINION BY JUSTICE GRAVES
I would strike down the ordinance as being arbitrary and oppressive and
therefore in violation of Section 2 of the Bill of Rights of the Kentucky
Constitution' . The ordinance is arbitrary because there are less intrusive means
to achieve the intended result of making sure that the health of non-smokers is
protected . The ordinance is oppressive because it operates as a regulatory
partial taking of private property without just compensation .
Private property does not belong to the public . Employing a large staff, or
providing services to many people, is not sufficient to transform private property
into public property . The litmus test for private property is ownership, not the size
of the customer base or the work force .
Since tobacco is a legal product and smoking a legal activity, the private
business owner should have the choice to either prohibit smoking in his or her
establishment, or be permitted and required to warn patrons that smoking is
allowed and that second-hand smoke presents a health hazard. Thus, both the
business owner and the customer have freedom of choice, and the ends of the
ordinance are achieved in a reasonable manner. Customers are warned of the
risk of second-hand smoke up front, and can easily avoid the risk by leaving the
premises .
Each business is unique. Each deals with a different clientele . Who but
the owner is best able to determine the effect of a smoking ban on profits? If he
' §2 . Absolute and arbitrary power denied . Absolute and arbitrary power over
the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in
the largest majority .
is wrong, he will soon adjust, or go out of business . The American economic
system works best when individuals are able to put resources to their most highly
valued use. The right to own private property is the foundation of a free market
economy .
Use is an essential attribute of ownership. The private property owner
operates a restaurant to make a profit, not because his fellow man needs to be
fed . The owner chooses to either prohibit or permit smoking depending upon
which choice will be the most efficient use of the investment of his capital and
labor. Through regulations, the government is restricting a reasonable and
economically efficient use of the owner's property . Such a partial taking and
impairment of economic efficiency amounts to a regulatory taking for which
compensation should be paid in accordance with the Fifth Amendment to the
United States Constitution 2 and Section 13 of the Bill of Rights to the Kentucky
Constitution.
Property rights have crucially contributed to our freedom and prosperity .
In Vanhorne's Lessee v. Dorrance , 28 F .Cas . 1012, 310 (1795), the United
States Supreme Court noted that the "right of acquiring and possessing property,
2 Amendment V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment of indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service
in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same
offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for
public use, without just compensation .
3 §13 . Double jeopardy- Property not to betaken for public use without
compensation . No person shall, for the same offense, be twice put in jeopardy of
his life or limb, nor shall any man's property be taken or applied to public use
without the consent of his representatives, and without just compensation being
previously made to him .
and having it protected, is one of the natural, inherent and inalienable rights of
men . . . . The preservation of property then is a primary object of the social
compact." In Dorothy Lynch, et al v. Household Finance Corp ., et al, 405 U .S.
538, 552, 92 S .Ct. 1113, 31 L.Ed .2d 424 (1972), the Supreme Court stated,
"Property does not have rights . People have rights . . . .
In fact, a fundamental
interdependence exists between the personal right to liberty, and the personal
right in property . Neither could have meaning without the other. That rights in
property are basic civil rights has long been recognized ."
The actions of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government are
comparable to those in centrally-planned economies where property tends to be
managed by the state and government officials decide how to use those
resources . The system of private property ownership works best when the
individual holds the right to manage his property . When the law fails to respect
private property rights there is little incentive to be productive and accumulate
capital, grow economically, and create jobs.
Since the owner is free to start a new business or close an existing
business, he should be able to determine - for good reasons, bad reasons, or no
reason at all - whether to admit smokers, nonsmokers, or both . Customers or
employees who object may go elsewhere . They would not be relinquishing any
right that they ever possessed . By contrast, when a businessman is forced to
effect an unwanted smoking policy on his own property, the government is taking
part of his property by regulation.
C .S . Lewis warned of the loss of self-determination in The Humanitarian
Theory of Punishment:
Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may
be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber
barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies . The robber
baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some
point be satiated ; but those who torment us for our own good will
torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own
conscience .
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