Newport Beach might ticket smokers at local parks

Smokers strolling in a city park may face a citation if the Newport Beach City Council approves a ban proposed at Tuesday's study session.

By a 4-3 straw vote, the council members gave preliminary approval to banning smoking in public parks and open spaces. Already, smokers are barred from lighting up on beaches, piers and the boardwalk.

Newport Beach's action follows other cities' efforts to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. In February, New York City approved a smoking ban in its parks. And in September, Santa Monica prohibited smoking near apartment buildings.

"We are going to say in areas where people gather to relax and recreate that's not an area where you can smoke," Councilwoman Nancy Gardner said in September, when the city's Environmental Quality Affairs Committee approved the ban. "I don't think we're asking too much."

Read the full report on the Newport Beach smoking crackdown here.

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Comments

[rescue8]

Fantastic News!

[alan hart]

Newport Beach could lose the right to have parks if they continue to trample on citizens civil rights.

[Charles]

NOBODY has ever been killed by second hand smoke. This is just another scam.

[Charlie S]

Only a city in the OC would do something so pathetic.

[BlondeBombshell]

I am a smoker, but I am a considerate one. If I am in public and want to light up I will step away from the crowd and light up. Not every smoker does this and even I have been bothered by someone smoking in a crowd but this is pushing it a bit far. I can understand not wanting people to smoke near doors, hospital, out door dining and schools but parks. Come on, you are out doors in wide open spaces. I feel the same about the beaches but I can understand no one wants to see a bunch of butts on the beach. But I see people leaving trash on the beach all the time so it is wrong to assume the only trash on the beach is butts. Good thing I don't live in Newport!

[Mike]

Even as an Ex-smoker I don't think it is right to tell anyone what they can or can not do in PUBLIC areas! Enhanced pat-downs to travel by air, check points along highways to check your "papers" for citizenship. When did we stop being a FREE America that it's people have rights! When will the Gestapo tactics end?
One more question, How does this help solve the budget crisis or help get more jobs created? Is Newport Beach in such good shape that this is not an issue for them? Or is it that the Newport Beach Police have nothing better to do?
Come on people, get back on track and help out with the real problems.

[corrupt gov]

City Council needs to be abolished they are always at the root of corruption ,now these rotten pieces of crap have the nerve to tell us what we can do or not do i say its time to hang them all up by the balls of their feet .

[KrissyinLA]

Wow Newport is really soaring into the future NOT!!! Behind the Orange Curtain is no longer a joke, it's the truth... I never really liked Newport to begin with, a tad too waspy for me. Next thing you know, they will be knocking at your front door fining you $8k if they smell smoke outside your home. Gimme a break!

[Angelia]

Charlie S....

THE OC?

LOL We don't live in a TV show, no one says I live in THE Orange County.

OC...that's it.

Haha...The OC.....classic.

[B Fal]

Fine with me, but Newport Beach citizens should not be eligible for a dime of any smoking related taxes. If they want to effectively ban smoking in the city, then their citizens should not be able to gain funds from the massive taxes on the product. Oh, by the way, cigarette taxes paid for city parks and the purchase of undeveloped land in California amongst other things.. So you'll want to be giving that back. Feel free to look it up.

Smoking is a RIGHT. I pay for the "cost" to society through the nearly 50% tax per pack, much higher than ANY other product in this country. Fatty foods and sugars cause more health issues, yet aren't taxed nearly the same. 20% of this nation smokes, and it's not a good habit. But we have the same rights to public land as you. Go ahead and ticket polluters; the people who don't pick up their butts. A ban is Nanny State nonsense. Where is the freedom?

[David]

Good item. That will teach smokers not to poison our community.

[JC Landis]

Thank god. I hate smokers who think that they have the right to pollute the air around them without any regard for others. But, it's funny though, when you think about it. Many cities are going to ticket for smoking in public, for having your lawn look unkempt and other seemingly tiny infractions but no one wants to deal with the issue of illegal immigration. It costs us millions of dollars a year and, from the federal government down to local government, people shy away from doing what's right and protecting it's tax paying citizens.

[Kobeskillz]

Thank god! I hate smokers! Idiots always smoke and I hate the smell of the smoke and the 2nd hand smoke. Plus those fools who smoke in their car and throw away the cigarette out their window. Ugh!

[Adios Los Dodgeros]

HELLO?!?!? Your city is NAMED for a brand of cigarettes.
The day this goes into effect I will truck on down to this city, go to their most populated park and light up my Lucky Strike, then blow it in the face of the nearest kids.
I will toss my unfiltered butts into the playground sandbox.
If anyone asks me to put my cigarette out I will comply - by sticking the lit end in their eye.

[Rock Slyde]

is this what we elect these people for, to pass laws to restrict our lives and put us all in the same box. I for one am tried of all these revenue enhancement laws that local gov't passes under the guise of our best interest when in reality it is to fine creative ways to suck more money from the pockets of those THEY WORK FOR. There is a big misconception in gov't that we work for them, when they are suppose to work for us and that is not by taking more money for services that are a tax on lifestyles, like the insurance companies it's a numbers game.

[Susie Q]

Give me a break!! Just another way for a city to suck the life outta people!. Really?? I get not smoking in a resteraunt or on the airplane. But come on you high flutent crabby people! OUTSIDE should be perfectly acceptably to spark up. I, being a responsible smoker never leave my butts and always walk away from the crowd. But to give me a ticket? Fudge that. Another way to take away our rights as individuals.

[REA]

Kobeskillz,
"I hate smokers". That's pretty sick to pass judgment on someone of their preference to light up. I personally don't smoke, but then I don't "hate" someone because they do.

[Mcgibby]

Wouldn't it make sense to put a "smoking section" on the outskirts of the park to be considerate of those who do smoke? I mean, this is a legal product, and it is outdoors where it will hard NO ONE!

[SAM]

ANd let all the drunks do their normal routine,walk and drive around drunk

[SAM]

Take California and Shove it ,your 14 Billion Alcoholic Beverages per year served IS OK RIGHT ? Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[perry johns]

newport is just another place i wont be spending money at any longer. All the bull going on in your city and your worried about the 20% of free americans that choose to smoke. Really? your Tax dollars at work. great job!!!! Next your going to get fined for passing wind.

[ann]

Good news, really sick of second hand smoke exposure, it does kill good people who would rather stay healthy. DISGUSTING HABIT!!!

[JR]

Sounds like were trying to solve budget problems on the guise of protecting people. Classic. Do a little research on what happens to cigerette smoke as soon as you exhale it outside. The smell might irritate some people, but as far as adverse health effects on other people outdoors,you must be kidding. Stopping cars from driving near or around the park would have greater benefits to improving health but produce less revenue. As our country sinks deeper into our fiscal crisis you are going to see the government "step up" to the plate more on protecting its citizens. After all, I'm sure the government has our saftey and protection at the forefront of their minds at all times. Right?