No Smoking - No Ifs, Ands, or Butts

San Diego's new Beach and Park smoking ban will soon take affect. The Council voted unanimously at the June 19th meeting of the San Diego City Council to ban smoking at City owned parks and beaches. That means at beaches such as La Jolla Shores and Pacific Beach from the sidewalk or board walk to the water line and all areas in parks such as Balboa Park and Mission Trails Regional Park smoking will be prohibited. Signs announcing the new policy will soon be in place and the ban is expected to begin sometime in late summer. Fines start at $250.

Councilmember Scott Peters and I first proposed the idea in February in order to prevent litter, improve air quality and promote safety by preventing fire hazards. San Diego joins about 30 other California cities in banning smoking in various public places. We are catching up to other progressive cities that have passed such a law. This law sends a message that we are trying to set an example.