Smoking Ban Moves Outdoors (CA)

LA Times ^ | March 18, 2006 | Bob Pool

[FairOpinion]

Calabasas makes it illegal to light up in public spaces, with fines up to $500. Some residents breathe easier, but others just fume.

As a pioneering public smoking ban went into effect Friday in Calabasas, enforcement came from a higher authority: Mother Nature.

A pouring rainstorm snuffed out renegade smokers' cigarettes and sent them scurrying for cover as security guards began issuing warnings at the town's main shopping center.

Calabasas, an upscale suburb perched on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley, was generating international attention for what appears to be the nation's first ban on smoking in all outdoor public spaces. Violators can be fined up to $500.

As the day wore on, smokers were playing a cat-and-mouse game with mall security. Cupping their cigarettes in their hands and hiding them under patio tables, they flipped them to the outdoor mall's damp sidewalks when guards approached.

[FairOpinion]

This is a follow up to an earlier article and thread:

Snuff Out Those Cigarettes in Calabasas (CA). Smoking Ban (Even Outdoors) Starts Today

Note: Public places does NOT mean only "government owned" places, it means any place where people are, including on PRIVATE property, such as malls, apartment buildings, etc. And they do mean, that you can't smoke OUTDOORS.

Text of Smoking Ban Ordinance

Excerpt:

Page 7:

Sec. 8.12.040 Prohibition of Smoking

(a) Public and Other Places Where Smoking Prohibited. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or by state or federal law, smoking is prohibited everywhere in the city, including but not limited to:
(1) Public Places;
(2) Places of Employment;
(3) Multi-Unit Residence Common Areas;
(4) Enclosed and Unenclosed Places of Hotels, Businesses, Restaurants, and Bars, and other public accommodations.

[FairOpinion]

I would like to quote here the excellent summary by SittingYonder from the other thread, which is worth repeating:

Sitting Yonder: "The point is, however, it is not the place of the government to decide if people can or cannot smoke on private property. This isn't about smoking, it's about government over-extending its authority."

[xrp]

I'm from the Government and I'm here to help

[ErnBatavia]

Just to piss of Calabasas, some Indian tribe should open a casino there - complete with the inherent smoking setups they have.

[satchmodog9]

But, two guys walking around with their hands in each others back pockets is fine.

[FairOpinion]

And the government may actually allow you to smoke on your own property... IF you meet certain requirements, isn't that just so nice of them? (sarasm)

How many businesses are large enough to have outside areas at least 20 feet from walking areas?

"He noted that the city is trying to accommodate those who just must light up. The new ordinance allows property owners to apply to set up designated smoking areas outside businesses and offices. These must be at least 20 feet from entrances, walking paths or other areas where nonsmokers might be. So far, only two such areas exist, outside a Calabasas Road electronics firm and behind City Hall.

The new rules exempt residences, backyards, balconies and patios unless they are adjacent to common areas, laundry rooms or apartment complex walkways."

[Nathan Zachary]

gays performing lewd sexual acts in public is perfectly fine.

No doubt smoking dope doesn't raise an eyebrow either.

What a country.

[festus]

Another reason to not live in Kalifornia.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Today they take a deep breath and smell the smug.

[SheLion]

Calabasas, CA: Help Stop The Attack On Your Rights!!!

Help Stop The Attack On Your Rights!!!

The City of Calabasas in an over whelming attempt to stamp out what they feel is an unwanted part of their community has passed a law banning smoking from public places. Not only banning but making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1000 fine and/or six months in jail. That is not all if you witness a smoker in the act and don't report them you are guilty of aiding and abiding which holds the same punishment regardless of how you feel about smoking.

Calabasas using its own unique judgment has inacted a law that not only bans smoking but also bans your freedoms, freedoms of choice, the pursuit of happiness and other. Utilizing this law to attack and scapegoat a percentage of its population it deems unfit. Calabasas has chosen to treat smokers as a pariah much in the same way people viewed immigrants coming into this country. These people are not Terrorist they are not attacking or even harming those around you as some may say. If cigarette smoking was the reason behind this why did Calabasas simply ban the sale of tobacco and tobacco related products. They know they can't they feel if they attack the people and try to prove to people it is in their best interest. If Calabasas is so worried about the health and welfare of its people why do they still allow cars and big rigs into their town?

We ask that all people residence of Calabasas and those traveling in and around Calasbasas to stand up for your rights and the rights of your neighbors. Stand up and protest this unlawful and blatant attack on you civil liberties. Boycott Calabasas now! Don't shop in the city of Calabasas.
Drive a little further down the road shop in Augora, Hidden Hills, or Woodland Hills. If these politicians think they can be an isolated city where your freedoms mean nothing showing them that you will not stand for this type of injustice. In the coming days we will also be organizing peaceful protest but this boycott will be the loudest and most meaningful
way to show your disgust to a community who has no interest in protecting the rights of its people.

We as Americans have the duty to defend those who are being persecuted unjustly by those in power. This kind of McCarthyism will no longer be tolerated by the American people. A people whose beliefs are tolerance and justice for all.

Your Civil Liberties Are Under Attack !

More info:
Read
Read

You can email us at
drshocker@hotmail.com
and
sirgwain@hotmail.com

Read

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS GRAPHIC AND PRINT IT OUT TO TAPE ON YOUR SHIRT OR PURSE OR BRIEFCASE OR CAR OR DOG OR...

Small graphic to print out.

Larger graphic to print out.

[SheLion]

Attention all business owners suffering from a smoking ban.
Please fill out this form and submit it for a new web page
Ban Loss

[stopem]

But yet entering our country ILLEGALLY is perfectly okay!
Bringing in illegals drugs is perfectly okay.

Politicians gone nuts!

[EGPWS]

The game of smoking bans and collecting cigarette taxes at the same time is going to come to a head soon.

If smoking is considered illegal enough to ban everywhere in public,(public as defined 20 thousand different ways depending upon the topic of concern) then the revenue should be forgone and cigarettes should be banned also!

Just hold on to your britches you who insist that smoking should be banned, for eventually the bans will outnumber our freedoms and someday it will be dictated that only so many hours a day of sunshine will be allowed for health reasons and taxes will have to be collected to support the regulation of this allowance.

[FairOpinion]

This ordinance echoes around the world. I just found this editorial from New Zealand, where the author thinks it's a great idea and it should be extended to private homes.

EDITORIAL: Will we ban smoking in homes?

http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3676773&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

New Zealand is not that far behind, with a Levin bar owner this week fined $800 and ordered to pay costs totalling $920 after admitting four charges of allowing people to smoke on his premises.

Public health researchers here are also calling for smoke-free homes.

A study has found an "aggressive" smoke-free policy will ensure fewer people start the habit, as well as helping people to kick smoking.

"With the goal of making New Zealand's workplaces smoke-free now largely achieved, people's homes are one of the last frontiers in the battle to reduce second-hand smoke indoors," Dr George Thomson said.

[Nathan Zachary]

It's not a fence between mexico and the USA we need to build, it's a fence between the USA and Califorina that should be built. Then send all lefties to live there. Use the National Guard to make sure none can escape. Then let them govern themselves to their hearts content.
Withn a few years, they will vote free welfare for everyone, and quickly realize after their first welfare check that it's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Within a decade, Liberal communism will be dead, the survivors will become Republicans.

[EGPWS]

Politicians gone nuts!

Politicians showing their true colors as to why they are considered nuts is a better conveyance IMO.

[Nathan Zachary]

Auto makers should also refuse to build cars to meet California emmisions. Let them walk or ride bicycles, which manufacurers should mark "Not for sale in California" to protect themselves from lawsuits. Everything should be marked "not for sale in California" for that matter.

[sangoo]

Another reason to not live in Kalifornia.

I used to live by there.....you have no idea how good it felt to get out. It's truely another country.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Brought to you by the same anti-smoke Nazis who are always whining and crying about "Bush" taking away their freedom and liberties. Personally, I'd much rather have the Feds listening to my overseas phone calls than telling me that I can't smoke in public. But that's just me. I'm a American not a DemocRAT.

[festus]

The few times I've been there it was a nuthouse front to back.

Went out of the hotel and ran into an elvis impersonator juggling knives.

Another time was eating in a reasturant in a business district and this dude walks down the sidewalk in a caveman diaper with a bone in his scraggly beard.

Here in the midwest doing stuff like that is grounds for an a$$ whoopin. Out there its normal.