Lawmakers pass smoking ban at beaches, parks

Tired of finding cigarette butts where animals forage and kids play, state lawmakers voted Monday to outlaw smoking at 278 state parks and beaches in one of the nation's most far-reaching regulations of tobacco use.

The measure would allow a fine of up to $100 for those caught smoking at a state beach or in a designated section of a state park. Smoking would still be allowed in many parking lots and campgrounds.

"This is a great vote for the environment, for fire protection and a darn good vote for those of us who don’t like second-hand smoke," said Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), who authored the measure, SB 4.

The proposal squeaked by with two votes to spare Monday and now returns to the Senate, which approved it previously and is expected to concur in minor amendments.

Republicans opposed the ban, saying it was unwarranted meddling in legal behavior.

 "It was a nanny-state bill then, and it is a nanny-state bill now," said Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore).

The Democratic majority argued that it was justified because of the health risks of second-hand smoke and the pollution caused by thousands of butts littering beaches and picnic areas.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not said publicly whether he would sign the measure.
 
--Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Comments

[KW]

I'm not a smoker, but I urge the governor to veto this nanny state bill.

Instead, step up enforcement on those who throw their butts on the ground and provide no smoking zones near children's areas.

[Ron]

Will pay to clean up the Butts!!

[MadPuss]

I'm convinced now that the majority of US citizens are idiots. Look around at the smoke & crud from cars, buses and trucks, living near a freeway is the worst offender. So many other things in our environment cause cancer and other illnesses. To outlaw smoking because of a little smoke is ignorant. The butts to clean up after oneself could've been enforced easily.

[Dodger Tony]

We cannot take care of our citizens, yet we have the political will to have the most powerful anti-smoking society in the world. That, and the ability to turn right on a red light, gives you a snapshot of California. Unreal!

[Thelma]

Thank You, Thank You. I think this makes so much sense. Now if we could just get those people away from doors out side businesses that insist on blowing their smoke in my direction. And yes I am a reformed smoker after 28 years and am paying a heavy price now with terrible lungs.

[Steve]

Wow, great! Would it not be easier to just exicute all smokers?

[John Thompson]

At first glance this would seem to be just another nanny state bill, but this will undoubtedly keep at least one kind of litter from our beaches and ocean. And speaking as one who has burned his foot on a still-lit cigarette butt, if smokers were more thoughtful there would not be a need for this law. Now about all you smoking motorists in cars without ashtrays... well, you get the idea.

[Erwin]

Okay, so next the ban will be for smoking cigars in legislative offices, and in the back room of that little bar, east of the capital building, where they meet the reps of private interests. As a smoker, I have no issue with banning my habit on state (laughingly called the people's) land. So, since I live in a beach town, I will be spending my discretionary income farther inland. One question, can I call on my Big Brother to care for me when I have an accident and am laid up at home?

[rocker]

Since they solved the State's budget problems, it's great they have time to pass nanny laws!

[Paul]

THERE IS NO DANGER OF SECOND-HAND SMOKE OUTDOORS. There is not a single study that exists showing a link. There aren't even any doctored studies claiming it, because only the biggest moron in the universe would believe that second-hand smoke can harm you or your kids OUTDOORS.

[Rick F.]

Ridiculous.I'm a non smoker but this is outrageous. Enough government control already. I can understand no smoking in restaurants and enclodsed areas, but not being allowed to smoke in wide open spaces? Give it a rest!

[Steven]

What is the point if all the state parks are going to be closed anyway? Talk about necessary legislation that could not have waited while other less important issues were shoved aside.

[Legalize weed]

They should encourage people to smoke weed instead of cigarettes because you don't leave environmentally unfriendly, chemically-created butts. Let weed smokers smoke on the beach as an incentive for others to quit tobacco.

[Michael]

Cue the radical anti-smoking comments...

[caroline Good]

As a smoker, I also don't like that my fellow smokers throw their cigarette butts on the ground, to go down the city drains where it will end up in the ocean and pollute it. On another personal observation, where smoking may still be done, there is no receptacle provided for the butts, such as in nightclubs parking lots, where one can throw out their butts.
I wouldn't mind signs everywhere saying: IF YOU HAVE BUTTS TO THROW OUT, PUT THEM SAFELY IN THE GARBAGE!!
or:
FISH DON'T SMOKE BUTTS! (Picture of a garbage can.) HERE OK!

[focilpz]

I dont even smoke. Never have and I dont care to ever...but man...california is a nanny state. No lowered cars...no hydraulics...but righ next door in nevada...you could drive your lowriders without being hassled by the nanny patrol...aka the police..sherriffs..n CHP....I dont care if a man want to smoke...ahead...if smoking is so bad. BAN CIGGARETTES...and end it once and for all...but the phoney Long Beach Orepeza want the tax money still...man...two faced b......

[John Smith]

I'm not a smoker but I'd hope you could smoke outdoors, maybe even next to a campfire or on the road while being passed by a big-rig belching diesel fumes. Get a grip people.

[PAC]

Lawmakers are busily generating hot air over smoking in parks because of cigarettes butts impacting kids and animals, but it's OK for drunken parents to carry firearms into the national park so that they can accidentally injure kids and animals. This is madness, plain and simple.

[Chuck]

Like these people in Sacramento don't have anything better to do with their time than making up stupid things to make more people laugh at them. Our state is falling apart in front of our eyes and this is what they sit around and talk about rather than creating solutions to real problems. This should be reported to the state's government waste website...the time spent by all of these people not fixing our state.

[Roger Pariseau]

Yeah, follow the leader, who, before he was elected Presiden,t, averred that he would emphasize science in formulating our laws. Well, he hasn't and our state legislators don't wanna. There is no discrete, empirical scientific PROOF that tobacco use -- on its own -- causes anything. There is empirical scientific PROOF that auto exhaust leads an exhausting list of other causes for lung cancer. Let's pick on all the arsenic in our drinking water as an example! All one can find concerning second-hand tobacco smoke exposure are STATISTICAL "studies" which, while having possibilities, do not qualify by any stretch as science. Sir Francis Bacon is rolling in his tomb!

[Liebchen]

I am glad about this new proposed legislation banning smoking on beaches and state parks. However, who will enforce it? "..[A]ye, there's the rub." There's supposed to be a $1,000 littering fine. Has any reader ever seen anyone receiving a ticket for littering? How about dogs doing their poopie-poop on your front lawn: a $500 fine. Does any reader know of one single dog owner who has been fined for his dog's trespassing? These laws were not enforced when the economy was striving to grow. Now, with drastically reduced work forces in cities, counties and state due to layoffs or other employer-initiated terminations, this measure is untimely and will never be enforced. We have bigger things to address these days. Too bad for all this wasted time.

[vrytix]

I'm an independent voter, and I fully support this ban. If Republicans opposed it, I'd say they're overdoing the nanny state criticism - and I really am sympathetic to their opposition to Big Government.

Second hand smoke is a health risk. Frankly, I'd like to see the smoking ban extended to parking lots and to other public areas as well.

[Herbert]

And this is not a transient directed regulation?

[Gilman]

Nice to see that the crack group of legislators in our State have still got their priorities straight.......

could have created a job's type bill...nope
could have extended tax breaks during this tough economy....nope
could have taken a pay cut........nope
could have cut the budget deficit by eliminating wasteful spending...nope

Instead they spend time outlawing a perfectly legal activity due to the financial and political pressure of lobbyists.

[Lynne]

Anyone against this bill ought to volunteer cleaning up a beach someday.