Smoking ban takes effect in Metro Vancouver regional parks
Smokers who light up in any of Metro Vancouver's regional parks and greenways could soon be hit with a $75 fine.
A smoking ban came into effect on New Year’s Day (January 1), and enforcement will begin in February.
The no-smoking bylaw, approved by regional directors on September 23, 2011, allows puffing on cigarettes only in signed, designated smoking areas.
"The objectives of the policy are to protect park users from second-hand smoke and to control litter associated with smoking," a news release, issued today (January 5) by Metro Vancouver, states.
"Second-hand smoke is of particular concern in high-activity areas where people congregate, such as beaches, playgrounds, campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and other public facilities.
"Litter associated with smoking has a major impact. Cigarette butts are often eaten by birds and other wildlife, sometimes with fatal effects."
The regional park system ranges from Crippen Regional Park on Bowen Island to Matsqui Trail Regional Park in Abbotsford.
Comments
9 Comments
vampires are real
Jan 5, 2012 at 1:49pm
Now that this law has taken effect, it's just another thing that people can't do. If there was NO law still, people would smoke and litter. Now that the law is in place, people will smoke and litter, and if caught, a fine. Education will help with this, NOT a law. Sounds like a cash grab to me.
The moral of the story? People are gunna big fat do things anyway, so post a "No Smoking" sign on the beaches/parks and be done with it. Policing this isn't going to do much, IMHO.
DavidH
Jan 5, 2012 at 4:07pm
The littering bylaw has existed for decades. We need a special one for smoking materials?
The notion that a whiff of cigarette smoke in the open air will cause health effects is, perhaps, the stupidest thing I've ever heard. No, I'm wrong. It IS the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
Let's ban peanut products on the beach ... 'cause somebody could have an allergic reaction if they saw said products ...
RP
Jan 5, 2012 at 5:35pm
I smoke and I'm technically okay with this despite the whiff of overkill, because personally I don't need to be smoking in parks and on beaches.
Unfortunately, since the enforcement/fining part will likely be slim pickings, this just gives us all another government-approved excuse to get up in each other's business and help further perpetuate a society of narcs, nimby's, and buttinskis. Let's be enemies!
db
Jan 6, 2012 at 9:53am
Judging by how the dog-leashing law is never enforced in parks, this will be a useless law - smokers will continue to smoke and throw their butts on the ground, because they don't give a f*ck about their bodies or the environment.
RP
Jan 6, 2012 at 11:09am
Armchair health nazis and now scenery-chewing concern trolls for the environment. Way to prove me wrong.
Also, I don't own a car - why should I have to suck on your toxic exhaust?
Salvatore Martorana
Jan 6, 2012 at 11:14am
What about banning BBQ's in the parks? They give off huge amounts of poisonous second hand smoke that is toxic to people nearby - and there is much more of it than from one person's cigarette.
Good luck with that.
Jan 6, 2012 at 11:46am
No smoking on Wreck Beach? Does the bylaw specify tobacco, or all.. um.. smokeables?
L Thill
Jan 7, 2012 at 12:10am
Even without a lot of enforcement, I've noticed a huge improvement in smoker behaviour on beaches, in parks, and even just walking down the street. Inflicting secondhand smoke and litter on everyone & creating unnecessary fire risks are becoming less and less socially acceptable. And the laws empower people to speak up for their rights. All we need now is for smoke-free multi-unit housing (condos, co-ops, and rentals) to meet the demand to make Vancouver a world leader in health protection for people who don't want to suffer because of smokers' bad decisions and lack of consideration for others.
Mackenna
Jan 8, 2012 at 2:10pm
I fully support this law and wish it would be applied to apartment buildings and all outdoor public areas. Parents should also be forbidden from smoking anywhere near their children (it makes me sick when I see these clowns blowing cigarette smoke around their own children). Cigarettes are carcinogenic, each cigarette has 4,000 toxic chemicals. They are a proven killer and I don't want to inhale that crap. If you want to kill yourself, that's your business, but you do not have the right to pollute the air I also breathe.