Community Corner

NJ Bans Smoking on the Beach, in Parks

State Senate passed a bill to ban smoking at beaches and public parks.

It might be hot at the Jersey Shore this summer, but it won't be smoking. 

Several New Jersey municipalitieshave banned smoking on their beaches, but the state senate today passed a bill that will prohibit smoking at beaches and public parks across the state. Violators will be fined $250 for the first offense. 

The bill will reduce second hand smoke and cigarette butts on the beaches. 

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"This enhances our beaches," Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle told CBS New York. "I think it promotes more tourism."

However, the bill allows for 20 percent of the area to be set aside as smoking areas. 

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"At my school, there are designated smoking areas and it gets violated," said Mariah Doerr, a New Jersey college student. "Who's going to be here to enforce it?" 

Do you agree with the smoking ban?


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