If a new ordinance becomes law, it would be illegal to smoke at beaches or parks in St Petersburg. It has nothing to do with the smoking itself--this ordinance is aimed at stopping litter.
Cigarette butts account for 40% of the waste recovered in cities and on beaches, according to The Ocean Conservancy. They take about 150 years to decompose, and release carcinogens as they do. A St. Pete City Council committee voted unanimously to move forward with a smoking ban in public beaches and parks. If approved, it would begin January 1, 2023.
I'm generally not one for banning things...I think you're an adult and you can make your own choices, even if I disagree with you. But it's mindblowing (and anger-inducing) how many people think it's completely acceptable to toss their cigarette butts on the ground instead of putting them in a trash can. Is it because they're small? Do people not realize how long they take to decompose? Do they just not care? Is this a "not my problem" thing? I personally am not bothered by someone smoking outdoors, especially if they're being courteous to the people around them, but the litter REALLY bothers me.
For years, we've been told that we have to use paper straws (or no straws) because they're better for the environment...but in my nearly 40 years of life (all of it in Florida), I've never seen a plastic straw on a beach. I've seen THOUSANDS of cigarette butts. Seems like we're trying to regulate the wrong thing here.
Earlier this summer, HB105 was passed, giving municipalities the ability to ban smoking in city-run areas, like beaches and parks. So if the City of St Pete were to pass a ban, they would be lawful in doing so.
Would you support a ban on smoking at parks and beaches?
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