No Smoking Please
By Krystle J. Bailey
“We are going to move forward on the bill to ban smoking on New Jersey’s beaches as a way to keep dangerous secondhand smoke away from the people who use our beaches — especially the children — and as a means of keeping our beaches clean,” stated NJ Senate President, Steve Sweeney.
Currently, outdoor smoking ordinances are voted on at a local or county level. Many New Jersey towns have already made the decision to ban smoking on their beaches. Ocean City is the most recent shore town to join the anti-smoking movement. At an early June City Council meeting, Councilwoman Karen Bergman became the final vote needed to implement the ban in Ocean City. Over 25 other seashore towns throughout Monmouth, Cape May, Ocean, and Atlantic Counties have already implemented their local bans on smoking.
Egg Harbor Township resident, Kim Burns is the Southern Regional Coordinator for Tobacco Free for a Healthy New Jersey. Having a lifelong heart for public health, Kim has spoken out on this topic for many years. She shared with Shore Local, “We are excited that Ocean City took the step to protect their residents and beach goers from second hand smoke. The Surgeon General has said “There is no amount of secondhand smoke that is safe.” Laws like this protect the wildlife and environment as well.”
Local towns are awaiting the decision by Gov. Phil Murphy to approve the law that would impose a smoking ban on the majority of all public beaches. The new legislation would allow for 15 percent of each beach to be designated as a smoking area. With many local residents pushing for the passing of the bill as well as a 32-1 Senate vote and 66-1 Assembly vote, it it likely that the Governor will approve of the ban. Assuming he does, the rule will not go into effect for 180 days.
In addition to the well being of the public, the preservation of the environment is of great concern here as well. An annual report done by Beach Sweeps reported that beach goers left behind 29,000 cigarette butts last year alone. Kim Burns shares, “a discarded cigarette filter can leach chemicals into the sand and water. Ocean City and the other shore towns have made great steps toward creating more family friendly experiences by passing their laws.”
There are, however, a few opponents of the smoking bans. Those that are against the ban argue that the beach is a free and open space where smoking should be allowed for those that enjoy it. Many feel as though the law takes away their rights as a smoker and as an individual.
If the state law is passed, financial penalties would ensure for violating the ordinance. First offenses would range from $100-$250. Second and subsequent offences could range upwards of $1,000 fines.
The following Jersey Shore Beaches have banned public smoking:
Asbury Park, Wildwood, North Wildwood, Point Pleasant Beach, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Belmar, Cape May Point, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Long Branch, Longport, Ocean Grove, Sea Girt, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, Spring Lake, Surf City, Somers Point, and Ocean City. More beaches are joining this list every day as laws are being passed quickly to adjust to the demands of non smoking beaches throughout New Jersey.
