New Jersey Smoking Ban Proposal

Well, the smoking gestapo is still at it, but I’m sure you knew that. This, however, is a case where the many spoil it for the few. It’s all about the butts, and I can tell you that I’m as sick of seeing them as many people, but this is gonna have bigger consequences. What am I talking about? Well, the latest smoking ban proposal in New Jersey is based on the concern of litter. Basically, smokers who throw their finished cigars and cigarettes on the ground. This is a big pet peeve of mine, and this is why.

Here’s the article as seen in Cigar Rights of America:

In an effort to reduce cigarette and cigar litter east of Ocean Avenue, the Borough Council will hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. Saturday on a proposal to eliminate designated smoking areas and ban smoking completely on the beaches and boardwalk. The total ban was recommended by the Environmental Commission.

“The problem with smoking is the amount of litter left behind. You can’t walk 20 feet on the boardwalk without seeing a cigarette butt stuck in the cracks or in the dunes,” Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle said.

Both Pringle and Councilwoman Meredith Brennan, who are nonsmokers, said they are neither for nor against the proposed plan, but want to hear from the public before making any decisions.

In 2001, the council adopted an ordinance that banned smoking on the beaches except in designated areas that are marked with a sign, the first smoking ban of its kind in Monmouth County. Smokers are only allowed to smoke within 50 feet of the poles and are subject to a $25 fine if they are found to have violated that rule. Persons who litter the beachfront property, including cigarette butts and other tobacco products, face a $100 fine and two days of community service if convicted.

“I think what we need to do is our homework and find out what kind of impact it’s going to have on beach revenue. If I speak with towns who have banned smoking, they’ll say it hasn’t drastically impacted business,” Brennan said.

Rachel Rogers, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, said she doesn’t think the ban would hurt businesses in town. Furthermore, Rogers, a nonsmoker, said she thinks more towns will follow Belmar’s example.

“I think it’ll keep our beaches cleaner. Smoking is not a big factor in people choosing which beaches to go to,” Rogers said. “People have been coming to Belmar for years and will continue to come. We have so much to offer that people won’t refuse to come if there was no smoking on the beaches.”

Joey Salpietro, general manager of La Dolce Vita restaurant, 400 Ocean Ave., said the ban would be a great move in keeping the air cleaner and people healthier. Salpietro said he thinks the ban could turn smokers away, but even with the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars imposed by the state in 2006, business was still great.

“It was just a shift and people would go outside when they wanted to smoke. Business didn’t go down. We actually did better than we ever did that summer,” Salpietro said.

Michael Fowler, a lifeguard supervisor at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch, said a smoking ban has been a controversial subject for a long time.

“In essence, I think it’s a good idea. It eliminates a lot of litter. It’s unsightly and unsafe because children go through it and play,” Fowler said Thursday morning while taking a break from a run on the Belmar boardwalk.

According to Fowler, the Monmouth County Park System is reluctant to put forth plans for a smoking ban because of the difficulty in enforcing it.

“The ban could tie up municipal resources in enforcing the law and could create a burden for taxpayers in hiring personnel to enforce it. All in all, I’m in favor,” Fowler said, however.

Donna Appleman of Avon, who also was on the Belmar boardwalk Thursday morning, said that although smoking on beaches should not be allowed, a wider ban would infringe on people’s rights.

“If you’re paying to be on the beach, there should be an area. The boardwalk is free access, so the boardwalk should have a place to smoke,” Appleman said. Pringle said the borough could do more in identifying where people smoke and provide them with the facilities to dispose of butts properly.

“The butts don’t disintegrate, contrary to what I think smokers think, for a number of years,” he said. “I appreciate smokers feel they have rights to smoke, but they don’t have the right to litter.”

What are your thoughts on this?

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