By JAMIE BUSEN

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Law enforcement officials in Quincy and Adams County have not been as overwhelmed as they thought they might be when the state's smoking ban went into effect Jan. 1.

The Adams County Health Department so far has sent 14 letters to businesses because of complaints about smoking. The Quincy Police Department has received 13 complaints, but the Adams County Sheriff's Department has had none and the state's attorney's office has brought no charges.

"It appears from the lack of any tickets reaching this office that the warnings or counseling have been effective in addressing the problem," State's Attorney Jon Barnard said.

Jerrod Welch, director of health protection for the Health Department, said 14 businesses have received letters reminding them of the smoking ban law and that a complaint has been made against them.

The Health Department is supposed to be working with local law enforcement. A protocol has been developed and Welch said all agencies are exchanging information with each other in regards to complaints.

The 14 businesses -- 10 in the city and four outside -- that received letters aren't the same 13 where incidents were called in to the QPD.

The Health Department declined to release the names of the businesses that received warning letters. Welch said the next step will be to visit the business and "work with them" in getting in compliance.

He believes overall, "things have been pretty good."

"I think that we were a little bit worried for our staff and our current situation," he said, as far as being sufficiently staffed. "But the complaints haven't been all that overwhelming. I believe the community is taking this in stride."

Welch said most of the letters were related to businesses allowing smoking in prohibited areas. Others consisted of the smell of smoke filtering into a prohibited area and signage issues.

Police Chief Rob Copley said that of the 13 complaints his department has responded to since January, only one was a "repeat violation," but it wasn't necessarily the same violation. And some complaints were unfounded once the police arrived. They went to 11 taverns, one retail establishment and one hotel.

He's pleased there hasn't been a lot of problems with enforcement.

"The big scare is over," he said. "The majority of people, by and large, are obeying the law."

Police have not conducted random checks, and Copley doesn't think they will unless it is warranted. He expects his officers will be more proactive in enforcing the 15-foot rule from doors.

Barnard believes the law is self-enforcing, that owners of bars and restaurants -- where there's the most temptation to light up -- do not want to pay the fine.

"So they will be vigilant about enforcing the ban," he said.

-- jbusen@whig.com/221-3385