Smoking On Beaches: CA Del Mar ban for beaches, parks

Del Mar Enforces Outdoor Smoking Ban

June 28, 2006

DEL MAR, Calif. — The city of Del Mar is now going to enforce its outdoor smoking ban, 10News reported.

No smoking signs were posted Wednesday at the city’s parks and beaches.

The smoking ban comes as a new report by the surgeon general is released that says secondhand smoke does more harm than medical professionals previously realized.

A similar beach smoking ban has been passed in Solana Beach. Recently, the San Diego City Council tentatively approved a ban that affects areas from Black’s Beach down to Ocean Beach.

Time is now for ban at city beaches, parks
February 12, 2006
Councilman Jim Madaffer and Council President Scott Peters last week proposed an ordinance to prohibit smoking on the city’s 17 miles of beach and in its 38,918 acres of public parks.
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Beach Town Considers Harsh Smoking Ban
Restriction Would Affect Smoking On Sidewalks

January 25, 2006

SAN DIEGO — Del Mar is considering imposing some of the harshest smoking restrictions in the country.

The City Council has already adopted a ban on smoking at beaches and parks, and it is also studying a possible ban on city streets and sidewalks, NBC 7/39 reported.

Del Mar officials said the city of Calabasas adopted a similar law recently and that the council will review that ordinance. Other cities to adopt beach bans include San Francisco, Solana Beach, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica.

Officials insist they want to respect smoker’s rights.

“If you want to smoke, you just need to be aware that it does affect others and do it in a way that does not infringe upon the rights of others to have fresh air,” said Del Mar Mayor Crystal Crawford.

The beach and park ban is expected to go into effect in March.

Del Mar report recommends smoking ban for beaches, parks

January 21, 2006
Paula Story

DEL MAR – The city’s staff is recommending that Del Mar prohibit smoking at its beaches and parks and says an ordinance could be in place by late March.

The new rules also would ban smoking at sea walls overlooking the beach and on street ends, parking lots and pathways used for beach access.

The city studied similar ordinances that were passed in Solana Beach and other California cities, and staff members drew up the proposed ordinance at the request of the City Council, which is expected to vote on it Monday night.

The public still has a chance to comment, and a second reading would be required in late February before the proposal could become law. There has been little opposition, and Mayor Crystal Crawford predicted that the ban would be approved.

“The only complaints that we’ve received about this are that we haven’t already adopted it,” Crawford said.

She said some residents won’t agree with the ban and that she has empathy, because smoking is being prohibited in more and more locations.

“If I were a smoker, I would be like, ‘Where am I supposed to smoke?’ ” she said. “I guess the answer is at home or in your car.”

In recommending the ban, the staff report – available on the city’s Web site at http://www.delmar.ca.us/ – cites the health risks of secondhand smoke and beach pollution from discarded cigarette and cigar butts.

The report says Solana Beach, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica are among cities that have made parks or beaches smoke-free.

Del Mar officials say they believe signs and friendly reminders from residents or lifeguards would be enough to deter people from smoking in posted areas.

“Concerning enforcement of the no-smoking ban, we believe that with proper signage and public information, it will be largely self-enforcing as has been the case in the other jurisdictions that have taken action to date,” the report says. “As a result, there is no additional cost of enforcing the smoking ban in public beaches, parks, and their entry points.”

Keep Del Mar Clean, a committee formed at the request of the city Parks and Recreation Department, performed several cleanups in 2004 and 2005 and found that much of the litter on beaches and surrounding areas came from cigarette butts.

The City Council heard in November from local community groups and teens who participated in the cleanups and from the Del Mar Parks and Recreation Committee, which asked the city to ban smoking at local beaches.

Keep Del Mar Clean has been working with Parks and Recreation on a plan to place trash receptacles at beach and park entry points for smokers to safely extinguish cigarettes and cigars. They also plan to post no-smoking signs.

“Of course, smokers may feel that this is another regulation targeted at them. I’m sure we’re going to hear some complaints about it,” Crawford said. “But it’s really an effort to keep our beaches and parks clean and to provide a healthy environment for all of our residents and visitors.”

Monday’s council meeting will start at 6 p.m. in council chambers at 1050 Camino del Mar.