No Smoking in Calabasas

[beautiful_mess38]

CALABASAS, Calif. - No more smoking in the park. Lighting up on the sidewalk could bring a fine. Dining on the restaurant patio? Don't bother asking for matches.

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One of the strictest tobacco bans in the nation went into effect in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas last week, making smoking off limits in public places where someone else might be exposed to secondhand smoke: indoor businesses, outdoor businesses, parks, outdoor cafes, even apartment building common areas.

"We just don't want anyone blowing smoke in someone's face. Unfortunately, what smokers do is harmful to everybody else. People should have the right to breathe clean air," said Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Washburn.

California air-quality regulators declared secondhand smoke a toxic air pollutant earlier this year.

The city took it a step farther, declaring secondhand smoke to be a public nuisance and approving an ordinance banning smoking in all public places — indoors and out — where people might congregate.

Hotels can still allow smoking in up to 20 percent of their rooms, and smoking can be allowed in approved designated areas at shopping malls and work places in the upscale city of 23,000 residents.

But if a nonsmoker asks a smoker to stop, the smoker must snuff it or face a possible fine in the hundreds of dollars or even a lawsuit.

"We salute Calabasas for raising the bar," said Jim Knox, a legislative advocate for the American Cancer Society in Sacramento. "Smoke regulations can play a very important role in reducing public exposure to harmful secondhand smoke."

Nationally, hundreds of U.S. cities and several states restrict smoking. In California, where communities have been at the forefront of smoking bans, San Francisco last year banned smoking in parks and stadiums, and oceanfront communities' smoking bans have inspired others in Florida and Delaware to designate smoke-free beaches.

Among the states, Colorado lawmakers last week approved a statewide ban on smoking in most public building, and New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act, under fire from bar owners because it exempts casino gambling floors, goes into effect April 15.

[tocools]

What a bunch of panty liners we have running this state http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/smoking.gif

[Yosemite_Wolf]

I dont smoke, nor do i approve of it... but banning smoking in the open outdoors is absurd! Calabasas isnt
the only city to do this. Boulder, Colorado did it more than 10 yrs ago... but then in Boulder they are so liberal that you can barely sneeze with out getting a ticket!
Why do we have to have so many dang laws saying what we can and can't do? (oops, there's my Libertarian mindset).

Remind me never to go to Calabasas.

[Kahlua Kid]

I'm a non-smoker - but banning it in the outdoors? Crazy!

And... Just who is going to enforce this law? Give me a break! Like they have enough officers to seek out offenders!

[beautiful_mess38]

also if you ask a smoker to stop smoking do you think he/she is going to do it.
You'll get something but you wont get a stubbed out cigerette.

[monkey]

Originally posted by beautiful_mess38:
also if you ask a smoker to stop smoking do you think he/she is going to do it.
You'll get something but you wont get a stubbed out cigerette.
I disagree, when I smoked, I would always put it out or leave the area if someone asked me to. When I would be at a gaming table at a casino, I would usually ask if anyone minded. If they did, then I would stand up about 6 feet away from the table and have my fix while I could watch the table and my money. What used to piss me off was when someone would give me the "stink eye", wave their hands and complain to their friends about smokers. Why not just ask politely? I knew it was a filthy, disgusting habit and tried to be as noninvasive as possible. I'm so glad I quit.

[tocools]

Originally posted by monkey:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by beautiful_mess38:
also if you ask a smoker to stop smoking do you think he/she is going to do it.
You'll get something but you wont get a stubbed out cigerette.
I disagree, when I smoked, I would always put it out or leave the area if someone asked me to. When I would be at a gaming table at a casino, I would usually ask if anyone minded. If they did, then I would stand up about 6 feet away from the table and have my fix while I could watch the table and my money. What used to piss me off was when someone would give me the "stink eye", wave their hands and complain to their friends about smokers. Why not just ask politely? I knew it was a filthy, disgusting habit and tried to be as noninvasive as possible. I'm so glad I quit. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great point monkey I do the same thing but if they act like there so much better then me because they don't smoke and are rude then watch out GAME OVER http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif

[beautiful_mess38]

Yea but that's you guys. We're talking about the people who live in all places Calabasses.
They have different attitudes there. And I'm sure as smokers they don't appreciate this and probably feel a "right" "freedom" has been taken away.

[monkey]

When they stopped smoking inside bar, I also felt a "right & freedom" had been taken from me, but I got over it pretty quickly and then was amazed when I went to another state where I could smoke in a bar. I remember I was in Davis and there was no smoking within 10 feet or something of a building. I walked out to the middle of the street and lit up. I agree that smoking outdoors in some areas is bad. Like at a concert, ball game, etc. where people are packed in. But in a park where there is no event going on? Seems like overkill to me.

[jakobscalpel]

Originally posted by Yosemite_Wolf:
I dont smoke, nor do i approve of it... but banning smoking in the open outdoors is absurd! Calabasas isnt
the only city to do this. Boulder, Colorado did it more than 10 yrs ago... but then in Boulder they are so liberal that you can barely sneeze with out getting a ticket!
Why do we have to have so many dang laws saying what we can and can't do? (oops, there's my Libertarian mindset).

Remind me never to go to Calabasas.

YW, did you read my mind?

[Dakota Blue]

Smokers exhaling oison into other people's bodies outdoors is no better than doing it indoors.

Ever been to an outdoor concert and had the people around you light up? It's yukky. Yes, you can ask nice as pie for the smoker to please pretty please stop smoking, and then deal with the uncomfortable consequences throughout the duration of the event. Yes, you can get up and move, and lose the spot you showed up good and early to reserve so you could enjoy the music.

I used to smoke. I quit. You can too.

[monkey]

I think what is at issue here is the density of the people at the outdoor spot. You shouldn't have to move to get away from someone else's smoke if you are at an event and you shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable nicely asking someone to put it out or move. When I smoked and was outdoors at an event and needed my fix, I would go at least 25 feet or more away from anyone.

[Yosemite Joy]

How about they make a stand about crap that really matters? I, agree, cigarette smoke is a disgusting smell.

But, umm. Isn't LA really a smoggy gross place? Isn't it sort of the same as telling people in Fresno to not smoke? Sort of inane really..

On the other hand. Telling people not to smoke in cars when they have children in the car with them is a good idea. And I hate it when people throw butts out of their car windows. Especially up here.

[Patagoniamaniac]

In mexico ..people would smoke at the dinner tables..that was disgusting..I hate that..

[CatdaBrat]

Over in the Monterey Bay area, there is a movement to stop smoking on the beaches. Whichever side wins will be the one with the most money to spend.

[oakhurstleaf]

We need laws because people can't just be respectful of other people's airspace? I think it's kind of ridiculous....people who smoke should be allowed to smoke outdoors. I think that this is just another way for the state/county/city gov't's to spend AND make money. First, they're going to have to spend more money hiring officers to patrol and cite people for smoking...even the lone smoker in the park who has no one anywhere near him being annoyed by his fumes. Then think of all the revenue from fines.

Can't they just ask people to please respect other people's personal breathing space?

It's tough being a smoker in CA.

Even Disneyland has outdoor smoking areas.

[monkey]

Actually, I read in Sunday's Bee that smoking is no longer allowed inside Disneyland. I think it is getting out of hand.

[Dakota Blue]

Wow, imagine not being able to smoke in Disneyland! Next thing you know they'll ban smoking in playgrounds!

[oakhurstleaf]

Wow. They're really taking a stand. This is a hard thing for them to do...even when it was allowed in designated areas. So many non-English speaking smoking tourists just don't get it...they do light up because there are not "no smoking" symbol signs posted everywhere. I think it'd be better for them to have designated areas...because let's face it, a bunch of unhappy smokers having nicotine fits and withdrawals ain't pretty...they'd have to exit the park and re-enter. Being the leader in hospitality (aka the "friendliest place on earth")...they should supply their smoking guests with an area in the park. Big *******' deal! Even Walt himself was a smoker.

Originally posted by monkey:
Actually, I read in Sunday's Bee that smoking is no longer allowed inside Disneyland. I think it is getting out of hand.

[monkey]

Yep, I agree. When I lived in O.C., I used to go to Disneyland severak times a year. There is no alcohol served there, so we would always take the Monorail over to the Disneyland Hotel and have lunch and a beer. What a pain to have to leave the park to have a smoke.

[MadScot]

If they are going to stop people from smoking outdoors then they should stop people from driving cars. They put out exhaust fumes that cause cancer too just like second hand smoke. How about those factories and power plants that emit high levels of toxins. How about all the wood burning stoves and all the smoke they emit. I think it's an absurd law.

[CatdaBrat]

Yeah, car wrecks (I hate to call them "accidents" because most are caused by people who CHOOSE to drive like idiots) probably kill and maim more people than any disease does. But we know they aren't gonna ban cars.

Seems like a trend these days to try and halt anything and everything that is "bad for us." Junk food, fat, salt, sugar, smoking or whatever. If human behavior could be regulated by laws, it would have happened by now.

I am really surprised that things haven't reached a point where the purchase price of such foods as beans, broccoli and cabbage would have a "methane tax" added on, much like the expense of smog controls.

Or perhaps someday we will be charged for the air we breathe. Come tax time, you will fill out a brief questionnaire that calculates your weight and body size so they can estimate how much air you breathe in and out. There might even be "air companies" that have the right to sell to customers in their area -- hell, they already charge for the water you need to stay alive, why not the air, too?

[Dodgergirl]

Well, we did have 'Oxygen Bars' in L.A., they were kinda interesting & sometimes fun.