Beach Smoking Ban Proposed Statewide

By Lookout Staff

May 25 -- Santa Monica’s smoking ban, which goes into effect on Thursday, could be extended statewide under legislation proposed by a Westside assemblyman.

Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) announced Monday that he would immediately introduce a bill to prohibit smoking on public coastal beaches along California’s 1,200-mile coastline.

The legislation would eliminate potential confusion resulting from smoking bans approved over the past month by the Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Malibu city councils.

“These cities should be applauded for their efforts to ensure that families who are visiting our beautiful beaches do not have to be subjected to someone else's nasty, dangerous second-hand smoke," Koretz said.

"But though these local efforts are commendable, such ordinances will create a confusing hodgepodge of smoking restrictions,” he said. “This is an issue very appropriate for state regulation. It will make compliance easier for visitors to our beaches, and will eliminate confusion for law enforcement."

If passed, the proposed bill would also address a serious environmental problem, Koretz said.

"Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter on beaches,” the assemblyman said. “Smokers discard billions of cigarette butts yearly in this country. During annual coastal clean ups, cigarette butts are always the number one item collected."

In addition, the legislation would reduce the harmful presence of cigarette butts in the ocean, Koretz said. Toxic chemicals released from discarded cigarette butts present a significant bio-hazard, particularly in the food chain when consumed by fish, he said.

Santa Monica’s ordinance -- which was approved 5 to 2 -- bans smoking on the beach and restricts smoking on the pier to designated areas.

The new law also bans smoking at bus stops and other public waiting areas and within 20 feet of all entrances to public buildings.

The state bill would deem smoking on a coastal beach an infraction punishable by a $250 civil fine, the same amount imposed by Santa Monica’s ban.