Hot Topic (7/20): Should smoking be banned in all public places?
From the Daily Herald: (Chicago area)
Smokers can still light up elsewhere but areas near playgrounds, athletic fields and the skate park in the Vernon Hills Park District system are off limits.
Though it elected not to go as far as some other entities, the Vernon Hills Park District board last week unanimously agreed to tighten the rules on smoking.
"I think we're starting out trying to emphasize the role modeling for the children," said Marla Pineiro, acting executive director.
"Right now it's more the areas where the kids will be."
The ordinance prohibits smoking within 25 feet of those areas. Offenders are warned for a first offense. Repeat offenders could have any applicable permit revoked and be fined a maximum of $100.
Vernon Hills joins Zion and Buffalo Grove as park districts that exceed state law regarding public places, which bans smoking inside buildings and within 15 feet of vents and doors.
Zion's ordinance, which took effect June 18, includes all outdoor areas except its two golf courses, for example.
Smoking also is restricted to varying degrees in outdoor areas in several municipal park departments.
Besides its public parks, Highland Park has one of the more extensive ordinances. Smoking is banned within 25 feet of outdoor dining areas, driving ranges, miniature golf courses, gas stations, the city-owned parking lot and other areas.
The Vernon Hills Park District didn't want to ban smoking everywhere yet, said park board President Jim Ballowe. He cited someone walking on a trail as an example.
"The consensus was those people were not bothering anyone," he said.
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What do you think?
Should smoking be banned in all public outdoor areas such as city parks, miniature golf courses, parking lots, and fairgrounds as well as the inside of all buildings?
Or should smokers have the right to smoke outdoors in public areas?
They've already banned smoking in restaurants, bars, office buildings, grocery stores, hospitals, schools, skating rinks, and bowling alleys in my state. I'd love to see them ban it from all public outdoor areas also. There's nothing worse than going to the park to enjoy an afternoon and having to breath the nasty second hand smoke from someone nearby. If smokers want to destroy their own health that's one thing, but they have no right to endanger the health of others, especially children.
I think it should be banned from public areas. Just because smokers dont care about thier health doesnt mean I dont care about mine and my childrens ya know? I always hated stepping out of the grocery store into a cloud of smoke. UGH! nasty.
Yes- it should be banned in ALL public places. Smoke in your OWN private home and vehicles- endanger your OWN health not mind and my childrens please- thanks LOL that's how I feel about it
Proud wife to Randy &Proud mom to Noah age 6,Hannah age4 and Leah age 2
"It's a poverty to decide that a child must die, so you can live as you want." - Mother Theresa
I agree that our government is trying to control too much, but in this instance, I definitely agree with smoking bans in ALL public places. I am a serious NON smoker, and so are my 3, 9, and 11 year olds, but when we are walking into wal mart we all have to breathe that nasty cancer ridden air, and I do not think that is fair. Do it in your own home, don't make me walk through your cigarrette smoke!
Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:What do you think?
Personally i do not like smoking. I hate the smell. So i choose not to do it.
Should smoking be banned in all public outdoor areas such as city parks, miniature golf courses, parking lots, and fairgrounds as well as the inside of all buildings?
No. It is outdoors for goodness sakes. And how do they plan on policing this? Are they going to hire more people to stake out these areas. Which means they will have to raise the money to pay theses people which in turn means they need to raise more taxes.
We are moving closer and closer to a police state. No more!
Or should smokers have the right to smoke outdoors in public areas?
Of course they should have the right to smoke outdoors. We live in a free country. If you want to smoke death sticks and kill yourself than have at it.
Quoting Godgaveme4:
Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:
What do you think?
Personally i do not like smoking. I hate the smell. So i choose not to do it.
Should smoking be banned in all public outdoor areas such as city parks, miniature golf courses, parking lots, and fairgrounds as well as the inside of all buildings?
No. It is outdoors for goodness sakes. And how do they plan on policing this? Are they going to hire more people to stake out these areas. Which means they will have to raise the money to pay theses people which in turn means they need to raise more taxes.
We are moving closer and closer to a police state. No more!
Or should smokers have the right to smoke outdoors in public areas?
Of course they should have the right to smoke outdoors. We live in a free country. If you want to smoke death sticks and kill yourself than have at it.
I really have to agree with this and I think that's what this effort is specifically to do, move closer to a police state. The same people who put unnatural and harmful chemicals (in my opinion, obviously not the USDA's) in food, water and vaccinations are really concerned about the chemicals in cigarette smoke.. outside? It's like another propaganda to shun people. (A lot like the green movement) We all know smoking is bad but people who still do it are not "one of us" kind of thing so we can be further divided, spiteful and hateful and destroy ourselves from the inside out.
im a smoker. and i agree with it to a point.anywhere where there is family .. especially kids, yes ban it in places .. i mean i dont smoke in my house, m car, ANYWHERE where there is children 100 ft around me .. but seriously, ALL TOGETHER!?! cant even walk down the street because of it?!? its bull .. we have rights just like gays, alcoholics, black-white, etc. im tired of hearing about it. if we dont see you, how about being smart enough to MOVE away instead "cough, cough .. s/hes giving me cancer .. cough, cough", we dont cant pin point everybody that doesnt have a cigarette in there hand .. i think there is more important things to focus on here than someone freedom of smoking. all you drinkers out there, how about we focus on taking our booze away cause EVERYDAY we are killing someones kid, mother, father, etc. because we cant seem to not go out and have a good time without drinking. theyre both in the same area, but when you really think about. drinking is killing MORE than smoking is.
I am a recovering smoker. I was a pack a day smoker till October 12 of 08. Even when I smoked a pack a day I didn't do it in my home or in public places. We always sat in the non smoking section of restaurants. So I have to vote yes on this one. I dont want it around me or my kiddo's.
I believe that smoking should be banned from all public areas. Because most (I said most) smokers have no respect for non-smokers. It is really irritating when walking down the street with the kiddos and people blow smoke in your face, or we have to smell it. Better yet I actually had someone throw their nasty but in my 3 yrd stepsons direction. In my hometown people can still smoke in bars. We don't go just because of that. I hate coming home and smelling. When we go to kids games people are smoking there. It sucks because we usually have to move to a seat thats not very good just so we don't inhale any of it.
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- Cafe GroupAdmin
on Jul. 20, 2009 at 2:21 AM