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Uploaded: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 2:20 PM
Senate passes smoking ban at beaches, parks
Senate Bill 4 would establish $100 fine for smoking at parks or beaches
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by Sue Dremann
Palo Alto Weekly Staff
A smoking ban on state beaches and parks passed the California state Senate Thursday and could make the state the first in the nation to eliminate smoking at state parks and beaches to protect the marine environment and reduce fire danger statewide.
Introduced by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, Senate Bill 4 would establish a $100 fine for smoking at parks or beaches. The bill is nearly identical to one she introduced in 2006.
Oropeza cited several additional reasons to support her bill: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined cigarette butts to be the most frequently found marine debris item in the United States. Smoking-related debris poses a persistent and serious threat to marine life; ingestion of cigarette waste by marine animals interferes with their ability to eat and digest food. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and contain more than 165 chemicals, according to a press release from Oropeza's office.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, in 2003 smoking-related items -- cigarette filters, cigar tips, tobacco packaging and cigarette lighters -- accounted for 38 percent of all debris found on beaches in the United States.
The California Department of Forestry has noted that over a 5-year average, smoking has annually caused more than 100 California forest fires. Smoking caused four of the 25 worst wildfires in California, from 1929-1999, including the 1999 Jones wildfire, which destroyed 964 structures, and the 1999 Oakland Hills fire, the largest dollar fire loss in United States history, according to Oropeza's press release.
More than 100 local governments statewide have imposed smoking bans in local parks, beaches and piers including Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Santa Monica, Seal Beach and Solana Beach.
Oropeza's ban on smoking in cars with children, SB7, took effect on Jan. 1, 2008. That ban applies to any car with a youth younger than the age of 18, even if the car is parked and on private property. In January 2007, her measure banning smoking in common-use areas such as covered parking lots, adjacent stairwells, lobbies, lounges, waiting areas, elevators and restrooms also took effect.
SB 4 now goes to the California state Assembly for review; no hearing date has been set.
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Posted by Neal, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on May 14, 2009 at 6:10 pm I am not a smoker. This is just another feel good law to divert our attention away from the fact that these lawmakers have bankrupted the state with their irresposible behavior. Pretty soon these parks may be closed to everyone so a smoking ban becomes irrelevant.
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Posted by palo alto mom, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on May 14, 2009 at 9:13 pm Yes, its not the budget, but smoking itself is just as irresponsible as our lawmakers. Smoking kills, starts fires, is polluting, expensive and plain disgusting. Its not a nanny state when I have to breathe someone else's smoke, keep my dog or toddler from picking up and eating cigarette butts, wash my clothes because they smell like smoke or pay for my cousin's hospital bills cause she chose to smoke all her life and is now dieing of lung cancer. The consequences of smoking are easily preventable - (and fireman just likes to stir any pot he can).
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Posted by Outside Observer, a resident of another community, on May 14, 2009 at 9:32 pm palo alto mom,
In your post, replace the word "Smoking" with "Illegal Immigration". It's just as valid that way, don't you think?
"Nanny Joe" would service us much better by forcing enforcement of existing laws, before he goes outlawing new things.
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Posted by skoals lover, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on May 14, 2009 at 9:41 pm what about use dippers and chewers? I almost feel left out?
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Posted by Bruce Nelson, a resident of Mountain View, on May 14, 2009 at 10:03 pm I don't smoke either but for those that do, wow. Got to feel like you have leprosy. Must be a horrible addiction to still smoke in light of the laws and attitudes, not the mention the cost. Hopefully someone quits over this. If so, I'm all for this law.
Bruce Nelson
RetireEarly@dishmail.net
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Posted by read and learn, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on May 14, 2009 at 10:19 pm "Introduced by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach"
I dont think "Jenny" goes by the name Joe.
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Posted by Anonymous Smoker, a resident of another community, on May 14, 2009 at 11:53 pm I choose to smoke, and drink, and do so where and when it's legal. I avoid smoking in proximity to others, and make sure to properly dispose of my butts. I don't think I'll be buying an annual state parks day parking pass this year if this passes. I just wonder how much revenue the state will lose from all of us ignorant smokers being diverted to somewhere else. As it is, I can no longer have a drink and a cigarette in a bar. Apparently the state thinks I shouldn't have more than one vice at a time.
I feel like my freedoms are slowly being stripped from me. It makes me ill that my fellow citizens think that they know what is best for me, because it suits the least common denominator. Now I have to use a "hands free device" after using a cell phone while driving for twenty years without incident.
I suggest enforcing the anti-littering/polluting and anti-bad driving laws that are already on the books.
How about passing a law that requires anyone that uses a state parks rest room to do so in a sanitary manner, by placing their used toilet paper in the toilet rather than on the ground/in a pile. My parks experience is regularly ruined by who don't know that our plumbing works just fine here! Let law enforcement focus on that! Maybe we could just put up some signs (in Spanish)?
Just some thoughts, please excuse the rant. But really, it makes me want to move to another state where people do the right thing without having to fear for breaking a law. I'll take chaos over the thought police.
S.H. - Santa Barbara County
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Posted by Betty, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on May 17, 2009 at 12:25 pm Nevada is a smoker friendly state, and now offers bargain prices on most everything. Especially user friendly to those content with never buying a clue.
Sorry to see you go; but now Santa Barbara will be smoke free, as well, so it is not all bad.
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