COURT HOUSE – The New Jersey State Assembly approved a bill March 20 that would ban smoking at all public beaches and parks in New Jersey.
The 64-7 vote, with four abstentions, now sends the measure to the state Senate, where a vote has not yet been scheduled, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.
The bill is designed to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke at beaches and parks, cut down on litter and improve fire safety in those public areas. Smoking would still be allowed in parking lots near beaches and parks.
Violators could get a $250 fine for a first offense, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations.
The bill would require the state’s health and environmental protection departments to come up with rules to implement the ban. It would take effect six months after passage.
Some beach towns have already banned smoking on their beaches, including Cape May Point, and more than a third of New Jersey’s municipalities have laws on the books that restrict smoking in parks and recreational areas.
For previous coverage, go to:
– NJ Weighs Smoking Ban at Beaches and Parks: http://goo.gl/61NmE2
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