Abilene Paradox Visits, Um, Abilene, Where Smoking is the Sweetest Sin

Abilene, Tx., to which we owe a Texas-sized middle finger for giving us Jessica Simpson, really sucks in other ways, too. No kidding.

Just ask Brian Wayne Hendrix, who was arrested and jailed on an outstanding warrant for smoking in public. Hendrix, 44, said he was "flabbergasted" by the arrest, which came after an officer pulled him over Tuesday morning on a traffic stop.

"I never thought I'd be going to jail for smoking a cigarette [in a bar], but I'd do it again," said Hendrix, who was released from the Taylor County Jail after posting $150 bond Tuesday afternoon.

The city's smoking ban that went into effect Jan. 3 prohibits smoking in most public places and businesses. Hendrix is the first person in Abilene to be arrested on a warrant for smoking in a public place, Assistant Police Chief Mark Moore said.

"If we go to a place where there are a lot of people smoking with no regard to the smoking ban ordinance, we will enforce it," Moore said. "As long as it's law, we ask that they comply."

As the police so often do, they "ask" with a set of handcuffs. More here in the Houston Chronicle.

Post title reference explained here and here.