"The law bans smoking in any city park, all open spaces, and at sporting facilities. It also applies to dog parks, public transportation facilities, Mission Plaza and the creek walk."
The law mostly targets smokers, but also applies to any tobacco product, including chewing tobacco. (Not mentioned in the source link.)
Fines start at $100 for the first offense; $200 for the second; then $500 for each additional offense within a 12 month period.
Fun fact: In 1990, San Luis Obispo became the first municipality in the world to ban smoking in all public places. (Allegedly.)
Fun fact #2: SLO also has a "no drive-through" ordinance. Fast food, banks, ATMs, etc., are not allowed to have drive-throughs. That's right, your lazy butt has to walk if you want your double cheeseburger to-go in SLO.
Supposedly, there is going to be further consideration to expand the no smoking/tobacco use laws even more. There's talk that the entire downtown area (or even the entire city limits) could become a no smoking zone outside of private property. I'm all for no smoking, but this is a free country after all. I feel like these most recent laws are a good thing. But, expanding much more than this might be going too far. If you say it's illegal to walk down a public sidewalk and smoke at the same time, what's next? No bubble-gum chewing in public places? I guess we'll see what city council decides on. What do you think? Do these current laws go too far? Not far enough?
Fines start at $100 for the first offense; $200 for the second; then $500 for each additional offense within a 12 month period.
Fun fact: In 1990, San Luis Obispo became the first municipality in the world to ban smoking in all public places. (Allegedly.)
Fun fact #2: SLO also has a "no drive-through" ordinance. Fast food, banks, ATMs, etc., are not allowed to have drive-throughs. That's right, your lazy butt has to walk if you want your double cheeseburger to-go in SLO.
Supposedly, there is going to be further consideration to expand the no smoking/tobacco use laws even more. There's talk that the entire downtown area (or even the entire city limits) could become a no smoking zone outside of private property. I'm all for no smoking, but this is a free country after all. I feel like these most recent laws are a good thing. But, expanding much more than this might be going too far. If you say it's illegal to walk down a public sidewalk and smoke at the same time, what's next? No bubble-gum chewing in public places? I guess we'll see what city council decides on. What do you think? Do these current laws go too far? Not far enough?
i would support no smoking in public places, like sidewalks for two reasons: smelly and affects others and it creates litter in the form of butts.
ReplyDeleteI would also support alcohol to be legal in public. It doesn't affect others like the fumes of smoke does and you could impose the 5 or 10 cent bounty on empties to keep the littering situation in check.
Germany for instance allows for beer to be consumed anywhere. While walking around Berlin, people are carrying open containers around. They're responsible with it. They've grown up around alcohol and generally don't seem to be as stupid about it as in the U.S. I'm sure this law would never go over here, but think about it- we allow smoking, but not drinking in public. Why?
Agreed on all accounts. I would be in favor of an overall no smoking ban too. There's not many things that someone else can do that can directly affect your health like smoking can. For me, I feel like the litter is almost more of a problem than the smoke itself. (The smoke is really annoying though.) When did it become acceptable to throw your cigarette butt on the ground instead of in the trash? I wish police would crack-down on smokers littering. Who knows...maybe they do and I just don't see it. I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it though!
ReplyDeleteAgain, I would be all for a smoking ban; but as I mentioned in the post, it would just make me think about it for a second. My gum chewing example doesn't really make sense, as I'm not affected by someone else chewing gum like I am standing next to a smoker.
The band is not going to be inforced,great idea though.
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