http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/outdoors.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/santamonica/Possibility_Of_All-Out_Smoking_Ban.php http://tobacco.org/news/298947.html On Thursday, March 18, the vote to ban all public smoking in California fell short of needed votes. Another vote is expected to take place early next week. Senate Bill 4, which was introduced by Long Beach Assemblywoman Jennie Oropeza, is titled "The No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act." If put into law, the legislation would impose a fine of at least $100 or $250 on those caught smoking at state parks and beaches. According to Oropeza, there are a number of reasons why the bill would be an integral one for state safety. Oropeza cited the EPA's claim that cigarette stubs act as marine debris and harm marine life, accounting for "38 percent of all debris items found on beaches" in the U.S.; that "smoking-related debris poses a persistent and serious threat to marine life and beachgoers over California's 1,100 miles of coastline"; and that according to the state Department of Forestry, "smoking has been found to annually cause more than 100 California forest fires and more than 3,400 acres of damage." Oropeza also blamed smoking for "four of the 25 worst wildfires in California" between 1929 and 1999, which have caused well over $1 billion in damages. Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, a Democratic representative from the 41st District (which includes such areas as Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Port Hueneme) is one assembly representative pushing for the ban. Canyon News Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://thecabin.net/news/local/2010-03-20/proposed-conway-parks-smoking-ban-softened http://tobacco.org/news/298946.html A proposed ordinance intended to address air quality and litter issues at Conway parks by banning smoking has been revised, calling now for the creation of designated smoking areas rather than banning tobacco use outright. Consideration of the revised ordinance is on the Conway City Council agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting. Aldermen discussed in January an ordinance banning the use of any sort of tobacco anywhere in city parks, with the need for such an ordinance evidenced at that meeting by a pair of plastic jugs filled with cigarette butts collected from Laurel Park — mostly near the playground — by members of the Asian Pacific Coalition for Smoke Free Arkansas. Log Cabin Democrat joe.lamb@thecabin.net (Joe Lamb) Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/147094 http://tobacco.org/news/298924.html The final Assembly vote on Senate Bill 4, a statewide effort to protect California´s coastal landscape and state parks, is expected to occur as soon as Monday. On a day when the Assembly had several absences, the measure by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, fell just shy of the necessary 41-vote majority on her plan to ban smoking at state beaches and designated areas of state parks. A full house is expected Monday. SB 4, the No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act, would establish a fine of up to $100 for smoking at a state beach or park. It was recently amended to allow the state Department of Parks and Recreation, citing enforcement concerns, to designate areas where smoking is banned. More than 50 groups and organizations support Oropeza´s bill, including the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach and Torrance, as well as state firefighters, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. California Chronicle Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.freelancenews.com/news/264090-bill-banning-smoking-in-state-parks-denied-set-to-return http://tobacco.org/news/298913.html An effort to outlaw smoking in California's state parks has struggled since it was first introduced in Sacramento a year and a half ago. Concerns about how the ban could be enforced led to delays with the legislation last year, and this year worries over cost and the rights of smokers have dampened its support in the Legislature. On Thursday, the smoking ban came up five votes short of approval in the Assembly. . . . In Santa Cruz County, where State Parks is the largest landowner, many favor a smoking ban. Groups such as Save Our Shores and the Surfrider Foundation, which work to keep beaches free of cigarette butts, have pushed hard for the law. Supporters cite not just the adverse health effects of smoking but the fire danger that smoking presents and the environmental harm the butts can have, particularly on marine life. Hollister Free Lance Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/88694117.html http://tobacco.org/news/298912.html South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to restrict smoking to posted areas of the park, including ballfields, the two playgrounds and the skate park. The lone dissenter, Parks Commissioner Jim Porter, wanted to extend the smoking ban throughout the park, including parking lots and the extensive trail system. Parks director Terri Arnold explained that the district won’t be writing tickets or issuing citations, relying instead on peer pressure and gentle encouragement South Whidbey Record jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com ( By JEFF VANDERFORD South Whidbey Record Reporter) Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/3190312/1006/news01/Bill to ban smoking in state parks stalls http://tobacco.org/news/298878.html The bill in the 80-member Assembly fell five votes short of the simple majority needed to approve the ban, in part because several lawmakers who were expected to vote for it were absent. . . . Mount San Jacinto above the Coachella Valley has had a smoking ban in effect for several years, said Garrat Aitchison, park superintendent. The 13,000-acre park has two campgrounds and roughly 50 miles of trails. “I've worked the beaches. I've seen the results of cigarette butts. But up here, I've noticed people are more careful,” Aitchison said. “We don't really see the carelessness.” Palm Springs Desert Sun Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EHL2V82&show_article=1 http://tobacco.org/news/298862.html Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday became the first of Japan's 47 prefectures to adopt a local ordinance banning smoking on swimming beaches outside of designated areas. At the municipal level, the hot-spa resort cities of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture and Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture have already adopted similar ordinances banning smoking on swimming beaches. AP Japan Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/03/smoking_ban_zeitgeist_san_francisco.php http://tobacco.org/news/298855.html ​We informed you yesterday that the Zeitgeist outdoor patio, perhaps San Francisco's most appropriate place to slowly get cancer, might have to go smoke-free under the new extension of the smoking ban. Today, we got a call back from Alyonik Hrushow, the director of the Tobacco Free Project with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Hrushow said that whether or not people will still be able to smoke outdoors at Zeitgeist and other city establishments will be actually determined by the definition of the word "incidental." Basically, people can still smoke if the food there is just "incidental." But what the hell does that mean? Hrushow had no idea. San Francisco Weekly tips@sfweekly.com (Ashley Harrell, Thursday, Mar. 18 2010 @ 11:45AM) Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_14699499 http://tobacco.org/news/298828.html Californians who grumble about cigarette butts in the parks and beaches may have to wait before their wish comes true -- if it happens at all. The most far-reaching ban to outlaw smoking in California's state parks, including more than a dozen beaches and wilderness areas in Santa Cruz County, has fallen short of a key legislative hurdle. Thursday, the smoking ban came up five votes short of approval in the Assembly. "Some people think that in the larger scheme this is not the most critical issue facing the people of California," said Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, who was among the minority who supported the proposed legislation Thursday. But the bill's author, Long Beach state senator and cancer-survivor Jenny Oropeza, said the fight for the ban is not over. She plans to bring the legislation back to the floor as soon as Monday. "Usually when you're that close and there's people absent, you can round up the votes at a later time," Monning said. If the legislation eventually is signed into law, California would be the first state to ban smoking throughout its entire park system San Jose Mercury-News @santacruzsentinel.com (Kurtis Alexander) Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-calif-parks-no-smoking,0,1078847.story http://tobacco.org/news/298827.html SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- An attempt by the California Legislature to impose what is believed to be the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks stalled Thursday over objections it would inappropriately punish smokers. The bill in the 80-member Assembly fell five votes short of the simple majority needed to approve the ban, in part because several lawmakers who were expected to vote for it were absent. "We'll bring it back and go again," said Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica. "I think we'll have the votes." AP Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/18/anti-smokers-next-frontier-state-parks/ http://tobacco.org/news/298826.html From the pines of Palomar Mountain to the sands of the Silver Strand, smokers soon could run short of options for public parks and beaches where they can legally light up. The state Assembly is expected to pass a bill as soon as Monday that would likely lead to the nation’s most aggressive curb on smoking outdoors. But the proposed law may have little practical force because California Department of Parks and Recreation officials said they don’t have the money to post no-smoking signs and don’t want to cite patrons without warning them first. The measure is the outgrowth of a movement that first gained traction seven years ago in Solana Beach, which led California by forbidding smoking on its beaches. More than 100 city and county governments statewide have imposed smoking bans at parks, on piers and in other public spaces. However, no state Legislature has outlawed smoking across an entire parks system, said Cynthia Hallett, executive director of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights in Berkeley. “California has a chance to be the first,” she said. “If it passes a law that makes all of the state beaches and state parks smoke-free, it will set the tone for other states to follow.” San Diego Union-Tribune Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/18/bid-to-end-smoking-at-state-beaches-falls-short/ http://tobacco.org/news/298825.html But smoking could soon be prohibited in state parks, including San Buenaventura State Beach. An attempt by the California Legislature to impose what is believed to be the nation’s most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks stalled Thursday over objections it would inappropriately punish smokers. However, legislators vowed to bring the bill back next week. The bill in the 80-member Assembly fell five votes short of the simple majority needed to approve the ban, in part because several lawmakers who were expected to vote for it were absent. “We’ll bring it back and go again,” said Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica. “I think we’ll have the votes.” Another vote could be held as early as Monday. Ventura County Star Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100317/LETTERS/100319700/0/ENTERTAINMENT10?Title=No-Smoking-on-the-Beach-What-next-the-moon- http://tobacco.org/news/298814.html The peals of laughter you may hear are those from many of us when we read that Wrightsville Beach is considering a smoking ban--on its beaches! Where next? The moon? Will the fanatical anti-smoking brigade stop at nothing? The many times I've visited any beach in the world, I've yet to smell tobacco smoke because--you're on the beach! Wilmington Star-News Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/smokers-kicked-to-the-kerb--then-all-over-town-20100318-qifl.html http://tobacco.org/news/298807.html YOU can have a fag with your focaccia in Leichhardt, but don't try smoking a ciggie with your sourdough in a cafe in Manly or Mosman. Banning smoking in outdoor dining areas on public land is increasingly common across Sydney, but it is happening haphazardly as councils adopt conflicting anti-smoking policies. Next week Warringah Council will vote on a draft policy to ban smoking in outdoor cafes, while Leichhardt Council is expected to endorse a policy of voluntary bans on smoking at outdoor tables - but won't enforce it. On Tuesday night, Waverley joined Mosman and Manly councils in banning smoking in outdoor dining areas, but the habit may still be pursued at the footpath cafes of Parramatta, Marrickville and the City of Sydney. Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7338103 http://tobacco.org/news/298801.html An attempt to ban smoking at state parks failed on Thursday when the bill fell five votes short in the Calif. Assembly. The stalled bill may be in part due to the absence of several lawmakers who were expected to vote for it. Another vote could be held as early as Monday. The proposal would have made Calif. the first state to ban smoking throughout its park system. Under a compromise, smoking would still be allowed in camp sites and parking areas. The fine for violators who light up anywhere else would be $100. KABC-TV Channel 7 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT