Sarasota County moves toward banning cigarette smoking at public beaches and parks

Sarasota County is moving toward banning the use of cigarettes and filtered cigars at the county’s beaches and parks to promote public health and reduce littering.

County commissioners voted 3-1 on Tuesday to direct county staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit smoking at public beaches and parks. Commissioners would have to approve the ordinance for the ban to take effect.

“I believe it’s important for the health of our children that we keep it out of parks and the beaches,” Commissioner Mark Smith said of smoking, “and just for a cleaner environment.”

This kind of ban is possible because of bills that passed in the Florida Legislature last year.

Previous coverage: Sarasota commissioners OK ordinances banning smoking at city parks and beaches

And: Laws prohibiting smoking and permitting alcohol sales at Venice beaches pass first reading

Sarasota County previously banned smoking

In 2007, Sarasota County banned smoking on public beaches and recreational areas where youth athletic activities take place, except in designated areas.

But, in 2012, a Sarasota County judge ruled that regulating smoking is a task left solely to the Legislature. That decision essentially invalidated local public smoking bans.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that allows local governments to ban all forms of smoking — except from unfiltered cigars — at public beaches and parks.

The city of Sarasota, the town of Longboat Key and the city of Venice have already passed their own smoking bans.

Sarasota County leaders discuss prohibiting smoking

County staff recommended a prohibition on smoking within its beaches and parks. The proposed ban doesn't include vaping and unfiltered cigars.

“I think just the public has the right to visit their beaches and other areas without the issue of smoke,” Commission Chairman Ron Cutsinger said. “And then the litter thing is huge.”

At a clean-up day in 2021, volunteers and county staff collected 3,749 cigarette butts from county beaches, according to county spokeswoman Brianne Lorenz.

If the ordinance passes as expected, Sarasota County plans to educate the public about the new law. It will also place signs on beaches and parks about the ban. Nicole Rissler, director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department, said that peer pressure will help ensure compliance.

Commissioner Joe Neunder said that parents attending their child’s sporting events at county parks will enforce the ordinance by telling people to stop smoking.

“You don’t want to be on the wrong side of a soccer mom or soccer dad, right?” he said.

Commissioner Mike Moran cast the only vote against drafting a smoking ban ordinance.

“I have great hesitation when the government tries to get involved in controlling people’s behaviors,” he said on Tuesday.

Moran expressed concern about the littering issue, though. He asked Rissler if parks department staff could be given the authority to issue $500 civil citations when people are seen littering. Rissler said that staff don’t have the ability to enforce ordinances, and that obligation falls to law enforcement.

Lorenz said that the smoking ordinance will probably come before the County Commission sometime in mid-summer.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Siesta Beach, other Sarasota County beaches may soon forbid smoking