Palm Beach OKs cigarette smoking ban at town-operated parks and beaches
Cigarette smoking no longer will be permitted at town-operated public beaches and parks following a unanimous vote of the Town Council Tuesday.
During their regular meeting at Town Hall, council members gave final approval to a revised ordinance that prohibits visitors to the town's public parks or beaches from smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products. The ban does not apply to private property owners or their guests while on their properties.
Council members approved the measure on first reading last month.
The ordinance takes effect immediately, though citations for violators won't be issued right away, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said Wednesday.
Editorial: Cigarette ban being considered for Palm Beach's beaches and parks is a breath of welcome news
Town Council unanimous vote: Palm Beach ban on cigarette smoking at public parks and beaches gets initial OK
Protecting sea turtles: Palm Beach will consider additional measures to protect sea turtles during nesting season
"We will start with education and warnings," he said.
Signs alerting visitors to the new rules are being created and will be posted soon, Blouin said.
The town operates two public beaches — Midtown Beach and Phipps Ocean Park — and 14 public parks. Those are Inlet Park, Palmo Park, Boyd Park, Dean Park, Wrightsman Estates Park, Crescent Park, Park Avenue Mini Park, Bradley Park, Phipps Plaza, Lakeside Park, Town Hall Square, Peruvian Park, Phipps Ocean Park and Ibis Isle Park. The town already prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public spaces.
The revised ordinance follows a new law that took effect in Florida July 1 that gives counties and cities the option to ban smoking at their local beaches and parks.
House Bill 105 was passed by the House and Senate in March and signed June 24 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The only exception is unfiltered cigars — which are still permitted.
The legislation is part of the Florida Clean Air Act, which aims to protect the public from the health hazards of secondhand tobacco smoke.
Diane Buhler, founder and president of Friends of Palm Beach, a nonprofit organization that hosts community beach cleanups within the town, told the Daily News in June that she welcomed a potential smoking ban.
"It's wonderful," she said. "Every little bit helps, not only for air pollution, but for cigarette butt pollution. This is huge. The fact that they're exempting cigars wrinkles my nose, but we'll take what we can get."
All four council members approved the revised ordinance at Tuesday's meeting. Council member Julie Araskog was not present.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach bans smoking in some areas. Where can't you smoke in town?
