NYC parks and beaches SMOKING BAN starts today

pitu

I don't smoke, but I'm curious. If you have an event at the Picnic House in Prospect Park and people go outside to smoke, is that breaking the new law? Anybody think Parks is going to enforce this like they do other quality of life issues like off-leash dog tickets? Reading the regs, I think one would have to go to the sidewalk outside the park to smoke. Hello wedding season...

I can see things getting ugly around this at the beaches this summer too.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/smoke_free_parks_and_beaches.html

A city health department study published in 2009 found that 57 percent of nonsmoking adult New Yorkers had an elevated level of a nicotine byproduct in their blood indicating recent exposure to cigarette smoke. The comparable nationwide figure was 45 percent.

whyfi

How about another option? I would be fine with the law being on the books but the Parks using selective enforcement. In other words, I would rather they leave someone alone if smoking far away from anyone that would be offended.

whyfi

How about another option? I would be fine with the law being on the books but the Parks using selective enforcement. In other words, I would rather they leave someone alone if smoking far away from anyone that would be offended.

whynot_31

I hate to split hairs, but really dislike "selective enforcement".

As I define the practice, it often leads people believe that they are being targeted for enforcement on something other than the act they are being ticketed for. However, that doesn't mean that we need to have a Parks Enforcement officer everywhere enforcing every law in order for any law to be valid

...it just has to be random, as opposed to selective .

Currently if you:

have your dog off leash during on leash hours

are BBQing in the wrong area

are drinking a beer

...AND are unlucky enough to be seen by a Parks Enforcement officer, you stand a x% chance of getting a ticket. To me, it seems far more "random" than "selective".

I doubt this law will be enforced any differently.

I.E. Most of the times you will get away with the infraction (smoking, having your dog off leash, drinking a beer or BBQing in the wrong area), but if you are unlucky, you will owe the city $100. It is a risk you undertook when you broke the rule.

You have to pay your ticket, but whether you change your behavior to reduce your risk of getting a ticket is up to you.

whynot_31

I hate to split hairs, but really dislike "selective enforcement".

As I define the practice, it often leads people believe that they are being targeted for enforcement on something other than the act they are being ticketed for. However, that doesn't mean that we need to have a Parks Enforcement officer everywhere enforcing every law in order for any law to be valid

...it just has to be random, as opposed to selective .

Currently if you:

have your dog off leash during on leash hours

are BBQing in the wrong area

are drinking a beer

...AND are unlucky enough to be seen by a Parks Enforcement officer, you stand a x% chance of getting a ticket. To me, it seems far more "random" than "selective".

I doubt this law will be enforced any differently.

I.E. Most of the times you will get away with the infraction (smoking, having your dog off leash, drinking a beer or BBQing in the wrong area), but if you are unlucky, you will owe the city $100. It is a risk you undertook when you broke the rule.

You have to pay your ticket, but whether you change your behavior to reduce your risk of getting a ticket is up to you.

reggi

When will they do something about all the toxic fragrances

people seem to bathe in? These perfumes/colognes are just

as nasty, toxic and filled with chemicals as any cigarette

but at present, not enough information is getting out there

to the concerned citizens. I suffer from MCS and believe

me, I'd rather deal with smoke outside that disappates

than the scents of fabric softners (truly toxic) and

then if you use a restroom assaulted by noxious chemicals

in the form of cherry or strawberry. People do not wish

to acknowledge these things are just as bad for us as

cigarettes.

If any Brooklynians are sensitive to fragrances you might

want to check out http://thecanaryreport.ning.com/ or

MCS America, you can just google to see what all is in

fragrances. Just my two cents worth

pitu

can't edit a poll so no whyfi option... :-)

but a Nobody-Is-Around thing doesn't work for off-leash so I doubt it would work for smoking as a law enforcement criteria. Although I get that smoking takes up a smaller space than dogs. I am pretty psyched in an anti-cigar way - cigar smoke lingers and travels, ruining more park experiences than any cigarette ever will.

whyfi

Man, I love the smell of a good cigar...

pitu

yeah, too bad so many people smoke shitty ones!

jamzer

Just like any smoking ban (offices, restaurants, bars, etc) it will take some getting used to, but eventually the people who insist on putting cancer causing smoke into the air the rest of us breath will adjust and take their filthy, disgusting habit out of our parks.

Next up is a ban on smoking on sidewalks and in doorways of office buildings. [-oB

bohuma

I am the worst kind of ex-smoker there is, and I really, really hate the smell of tobacco/cannabis etc. smoke. I find few things more unpleasant than sitting near smokers at the beach or the park and have often moved to get away from them. While I think the majority of smokers are considerate most of the time, I often seem to be downwind of the less considerate ones at the beach or park. Hooray for the ban. I don't like selective enforcement of any laws, if a law can't be enforced it should be repealed.

pitu

I found my Picnic House smoking answer - smoking is allowed in parking lots of city properties under the ban.

nkotsonis

My wife is asthmatic, so I fully understand the intentions of the law. However, to ban smoking outdoors, in a park, is a little ridiculous. Car and truck fumes are far more prevelant in the air than cigar or cigarette smoke.

vidro3

it's not fascism if I agree with it.

pmonk

They should an poor people from the park. The are bigger a bigger nuisance then smokers!

witch-king

As I understand it, this law won't be enforced by the NYPD and depends on smokers self-policing. If this is the case, Bloomberg is utterly daft.

jamzer

witch-king said:

As I understand it, this law won't be enforced by the NYPD and depends on smokers self-policing. If this is the case, Bloomberg is utterly daft.

In fact - police and NYC park department employees are empowered to enforce the law which calls for a $50 citation for violators. The HOPE is that the law will be self-enforcing.

vidro3

this will lead to many instances of "smoking while black"

or insert your preferred minority.

kosherdave

I saw someone getting a ticket in Central Park for smoking. I smiled.

I do think they should give out warnings for a while until everyone is aware of the law. I also doubt they will give out many tickets in the long run, but I hope it stops people from smoking in public places.

Eventually there will be a city-wide ban.

sandcastler

Now that anti-smokers are enjoying their day in the sun, thoughts turn to what else is in the to-do list of the nanny state.

The CNN coverage of today’s WHO announcement

-- http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/index.html

theblastedsamoflange

Hey fellow smokers, give it up, we are outnumbered I was a smoker, but didn't like the smell in my clothes or someone smoking next to me in a restaurant. I finally quit and didn't gain weight. This is not an add, I am throwing my fellow smokers a life line. try this pill at www.dontsmokeloseweight.com

veets

Check out the shill above^

boygabriel

sandcastler said:

Now that anti-smokers are enjoying their day in the sun, thoughts turn to what else is in the to-do list of the nanny state.

The CNN coverage of today’s WHO announcement

-- http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/index.html

Get the government hands off my cancer!!

witch-king

I'd prefer a ban on automobile exhaust.

whynot_31

The proposal to ban automobile exhaust from prospect park was withdrawn, and the proposal to ban it from Central Park faces opposition from Bloomberg.

....which begs the question: Can one smoke in their car as they drive around the park?

witch-king

Yes. However, if the car is parked, the perp is subject to rendition.

paraderest

Jamzer said:

In fact - police and NYC park department employees are empowered to enforce the law which calls for a $50 citation for violators. The HOPE is that the law will be self-enforcing.

An order has already been issued by the Chief of Patrol, NYPD, stating that under no circumstances should members of the New York City Police Dept. take action against those violating this law.

whatchuwant

ParadeRest said:

An order has already been issued by the Chief of Patrol, NYPD, stating that under no circumstances should members of the New York City Police Dept. take action against those violating this law.

Seriously? Then what's the point? I think this will just raise tensions between smokers and non, then.

Think about it. PS mommy hanging in the park- right on the other side of the fence sits 'dirt-bag' smoker, watching the kiddies. Mommy gives dirty looks and finally yells at DB smoker. DB smoker tells mommy to take her you-know-what and stick it you-know-where. Shit escalates. All are miserable.

People don't like being told what they can and can't do by other civilians- in this city, especially. Don't tread on my (insert righteous liberty here)!!!

booklaw

Sounds totally plausible. Maybe the cops will finally write the ticket when the DB smoker pummels the outraged and obnoxious PS mommy!

armchair_warrior

really lame, funniest thing is they'll legalize pot around the same time illegalize smoking lol.

whynot_31

This sounds sort of like the seat belt law.

Not wearing a seatbelt is not enough gounds for the police to stop you, but if they stop you on some other violation this is a not so friendly add on to your sucky day.