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County law's biggest impact: It's created more lawbreakers
Jump to full article: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, 2008-04-27
Author: Jason Armstrong Tribune-Herald Staff Writer
Intro: Smokers continued puffing away at select Hilo parks Saturday afternoon, the first weekend since tobacco use was outlawed at all Hawaii County-owned recreational facilities.
Smoking, along with alcohol and occasional drug use, was obvious during brief stops at Lincoln Park, Reed's Bay Beach Park and Leleiwi Beach Park.
"No make sense," Hilo's Gabe Lei, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, said as he and a group of friends, including children, watched the waves at Leleiwi Beach Park. "They have a no-drinking law (yet) people still drink, people still smoke. Not going to stop nothing." . . .
"Everybody still going to smoke on the beach," added another park user.
Doing that at a county park, gymnasium, golf course or other recreational facility could land offenders a $100 fine under a new law that took effect Tuesday night when the County Council overrode Mayor Harry Kim's veto of the legislation.
"That's my understanding," said Hilo Councilman J Yoshimoto, the bill's author, "that it's already in effect." County Clerk Casey Jarman later confirmed the bill is now law.
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