Santa Monica joins other cities with smoking ban
Smoking in Santa Monica’s parks will soon be an illegal act punishable by a $250 fine.
The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban smoking in its 15 parks because of health risks associated with second-hand smoke and the likelihood that children could ingest discarded cigarette butts.
The Recreation and Parks Committee brought the idea to the Council last June. It recommended the ban from “curb to curb” in every public park.
“It’s based on very grave health and safety concerns relating to smoking and second hand smoke, as well as children observing adults smoking,” said Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky.
Radinsky — who heads the city attorney’s consumer protection unit — said it will be illegal to not only smoke in parks, but also to throw smoking products on the ground.
The city attorney’s office will first launch an educational campaign so the community has time to accept the new law. That will be followed by random, periodic checks in the parks by the attorney office’s consumer protection unit and the Santa Monica Police Department.
Anyone caught smoking or throwing cigarette butts on the ground will be charged with an infraction and could be forced to pay the $250 fine.
The Council also included chewing tobacco in the ordinance on Tuesday because the act is harmful to an individual’s health and could pose a public safety risk because people spit frequently when chewing.
The council will review the law a second time in April and then it will go into effect within 30 days.
Councilman Bob Holbrook said the smoking ban should help police enforce the frequent marijuana smoking that occurs in Palisades Park.
“It will make it a lot easier because anyone blowing any kind of smoke will be subject,” he said.
Santa Monica’s law is not new. The state already enacted legislation, which took effect last year, that forbids smoking on playgrounds. The law also allows municipalities to extend smoke-free zones to the entire park or just certain areas.
Public officials worry about the affects second-hand cigarette smoke may have on children playing nearby. A recent study suggests second-hand smoke contains far more suspected carcinogens than previously believed.
Two years ago, Beverly Hills banned smoking in its parks entirely. And the Los Angeles City Council is currently considering legislation that would ban smoking within 25 feet of where children play. Los Angeles’ ordinance would even forbid smoking at dog runs, public swimming pools and golf courses.
Both cities were convinced of the ban by the Committee for Smoke-free Zones, which broached the issue with Santa Monica’s Recreation and Parks Committee. The organization is currently working with 10 other municipalities in Southern California on creating bans in those cities as well. New library project is $21 million over budget
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 27, 2003. Read the original PDF.