No Smoking or Vaping on California State Beaches 2020

A recently passed law referred to as Senate Bill No. 8 came into effect on January 1, 2020. The law bans smoking of a cigar, a cigarette, or a synthetic smoking device on any state beach and any state beach in California; the law also bans the disposal of any of the previously listed items on any state beach or park as well. Any infraction to this law will result in a fine of $25 and is considered a new crime under the law. Outlined in the law, the crime cannot be enforced by park officials until there have been signs created to notify the public of the smoking ban. Senate Bill No. 8 was initially written and proposed by Sen. Steve Glazer last year and was approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom in the middle of October 2019. The purpose of the new law is to limit the exposure of chemical pollutants released by smoking to the public, wildlife, and environment. In addition, the law is aimed at trying to prevent wildfires that have occurred because of ill-disposed cigars and cigarettes. While there were some “No” votes against the bill, the Senate Floor Analyses does not note any opposition given by the opponents to the bill.

Sources

McGreevy, Patrick. “California will be banned from smoking at state parks and beaches under the new law”. Latimes.com. Los Angeles Times, 13 October 2019. Web. 6 February 2020.

“SB-8 State parks: state beaches: smoking ban.”. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. California Legislative Information, 14 October 2019. Web. 6 February 2020.