LONG BRANCH – Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation July 20 prohibiting smoking at public beaches and parks in New Jersey. The bill, S-2534, updates the “New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act of 2006.”
“The Jersey Shore has always been one of our state’s – and nation’s – great natural treasures, and a place for families to enjoy,” stated Murphy in a release. “Signing this legislation demonstrates my firm commitment to protecting our environment and public health while preserving the quality and cleanliness of our public beaches and park areas.”
According to the American Lung Association, more than 480,000 people die from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, making it the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
In New Jersey, tobacco use takes the lives of nearly 12,000 residents annually.
Furthermore, results of the 2017 beach sweep by Clean Ocean Action showed that the litter collected by volunteers last year contained more than 29,000 cigarette butts, more than 1,150 lighters, nearly 1,900 empty cigarette packs and 7,172 cigar tips.
Cigarette butts threaten marine wildlife as a choking hazard and are capable of leeching deadly toxins.
The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), towns and counties to take measures to educate the public about the smoking ban and associated penalties, which can be $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
The ban will go into effect 180 days after the law is enacted.
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