Cigarette butts an ‘overwhelming’ problem on local beaches (SAR)

Another thinly sourced article, PR-generated. Cigarette smoking is a lawful activity.
Rather than deal with cigarette butt litter qua litter, with signage, education and ashtrays, the control freaks want to create a crime and collect fines.

The misguided, well-meaning would-be beach nanny-ninnies sponsoring this legislation are inviting litigation.

California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. thrice vetoed a more Draconian version of this legislation during the last four years.

This bill should not be enacted.  It's a diversion from meaningful legislation, like halting development in wetlands.

From St. Augustine Record:



Cigarette butts an ‘overwhelming’ problem on local beaches

Florida could soon join a growing list of cities and states that have banned smoking on public beaches. In New Jersey, a new law banning smoking on public beaches went into effect this month. Gulf Shores, Alabama banned cigarette and e-cigarette smoking on its public beachfront, and Maine and Hawaii banned smoking on state-owned beaches in recent years. [JENNY KANE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

By Travis Gibson tgibson@staugustine.com
Posted Jan 17, 2019 at 2:01 AM
The day after last year’s Independence Cay celebration, 175 volunteers took to St. Johns County beaches to clean up the mess.

The group of volunteers, led by local nonprofit Keepers of the Coast, picked up nearly 5,000 cigarette butts scattered across the sand. Cigarette butts, which contain plastic fillers, are one of the most common trash items found on Florida beaches. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, wants to change that.

“My whole goal is to get butts off of beaches,” Gruters told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “To me there’s nothing more disgusting than when I go out to the beach and reach into the sand and pull up a cigarette butt.”

On Jan. 2, Gruters introduced SB 218, legislation that would ban smoking on Florida’s public beaches. Anyone caught smoking would up to a $25 fine or 10 hours of community service.

“I have heard from numerous volunteers who help clean up the beach that the number of cigarette butts is overwhelming,” said Undine George, St. Augustine Beach mayor.

George said she would personally like to see the law get passed, but added that she isn’t a fan of over-regulation and feels bad for smokers who continue to lose places where they can smoke legally.

There aren’t many examples of smoking laws, like the one proposed by Gruters, but a few are starting to pop up in recent years. In New Jersey, a new law banning smoking on public beaches went into effect earlier this week. Violators can be fined up to $1,000. Gulf Shores, Alabama banned cigarette and e-cigarette smoking on its public beachfront, and Maine and Hawaii banned smoking on state-owned beaches in recent years.

Gruters told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that the Florida beach smoking ban has attracted bipartisan interest and he believes it has a chance of advancing in the Legislature when it convenes in March. State law currently keeps local governments from regulating smoking. A 2012 court ruling nullified Sarasota County’s ban on smoking at parks and beaches.

If the state law does go into effect, George said she could see a potential problem with enforcement at St. Augustine Beach.


“That will be very difficult to regulate,” George said. “Is that what I want officers spending time to enforce that? It could take away from time from things that are more hazardous.”

Ideally, George would like to see cigarette smokers pick up after themselves.

“It’s a shame that people don’t have respect for fellow beachgoers and the environment,” said George, adding that she will continue to keep an eye on the proposed legislation.

Gruters told WFTS if the law went into effect it would include designated smoking areas near the beach like at a pavilion or parking lot, but not on the sand.

If passed, the proposed beach smoking ban would take effect July 1.