Seattle enacted a no-smoking policy in public parks Monday, though whether or not that will keep the smoke away is up for debate.
The Seattle Times reports that though smoking is officially prohibited in the city’s parks, repercussions for lawbreakers aren’t particularly severe.
The Times notes that police officers and about eight park rangers will enforce the ban, but considering the size of the parks it could take a while for people to stop lighting up.
Parks and Recreation spokesman David Takami told the Times that smokers would get reminders, verbal warnings and written trespass warnings — but no fines or tickets — for smoking. In the case of multiple written warnings, Takami said, an arrest could be made.
Seattle opted out of fining after local organizations argued the ban would unjustly target the homeless. (To deal with a rise in homelessness, Mayor Ed Murray sought to sanction three new tent cities earlier this year.)
Seattle joins several other U.S. cities that have banned smoking in public parks, and officials are optimistic about the ban serving as an opportunity to educate about the risks of smoking. When then Mayor Michael Bloomberg implemented the no-smoking policy in New York City’s parks in 2011, the emphasis was also less on violation fines. In its initial phase, 700 warnings to smokers from officials were reported, but no tickets issued. The New York Post recently reported that current NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is continuing Bloomberg’s work and trying to get building landlords to ban smoking inside apartments.
Marielle Mondon is an editor and freelance journalist in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in Philadelphia City Paper, Wild Magazine, and PolicyMic. She previously reported on communities in Northern Manhattan while earning an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
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