Posted on 03/11/2003 4:42:21 AM PST by chance33_98
Bill Would Limit Smoking by Apartment Dwellers
California smokers may soon have one less place to light up. A new law would make it difficult for apartment dwellers to smoke at home.
Assembly Bill 210 would make it illegal to smoke in any in any common area of a multifamily dwelling, including outdoors. It would also forbid use of tobacco products in any apartment not specifically designated a smoking unit.
If it becomes law, AB 210 would allow residents, landlords or homeowner's associations to sue tenants who allow second-hand smoke to drift beyond their apartments.
The bill's author says that the legislation is necessary because drifting smoke can be both a nuisance and a health hazard. "You can sue someone to force them to turn off their stereo at 2 a.m., but you can't sue someone to force them not to smoke, even though it comes into your apartment," said Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael. "There's something wrong with that."
Critics say it's not the government's job to tell people where they can smoke, and call the measure a violation of their rights.
The bill comes up for committee hearings later this spring. Assembly Bill 210 can be read in its entirety by clicking on the link below.
Full Text of Assembly Bill 210
And that's just the point! You should be able to decide whatever you want to do with your property. But government has no right to make those decisions.
You obviously missed my smiley face at the close.
I have a friend who lives in an upstairs condo with avid smokers downstairs. They sit on their patio and smoke like chimneys and the smoke drifts up into her place. Her condo absolutely stinks. But in this land of "freedom", she has lost her right to breathe clean air..... When common courtesy is lacking and their right to smoke infringes on her right to breathe clean air - I have zero problems with this legislation. Perhaps it will cause some folks to be a little more considerate, whether it be with the volume on their stereo or their drifting smoke.
Just how is it inconsiderate to smoke in your own home if the landlord has no problem with it?
As another landlord, I could not agree more with you.
No I didn't.
I obviously didn't find it funny. CA is always the butt of jokes around here - and much of it is deserved, due to our idiot governor and the crazy libs that surround us. However, CA is a wonderful place to live in many ways and there are lots of us who are conservatives and we do love our State. After all, FR's home is in CA....
"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....
If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
You've obviously never landlorded.. just like all business, the governments at all levels tell us what we can and cannot do with our property. Being in business means you have to follow laws, its part of the game. I don't agree with all the rules, but they are part of doing business.
"What is ominous, is the ease with which some people go from stating that they don't like something, to saying that the government should forbid it. When you go down that road, don't expect freedom to survive very long."
Thomas Sowell
Incorrect. I was resident manager of a 35-unit apartment complex for 2 years.
just like all business, the governments at all levels tell us what we can and cannot do with our property
Correct. They absolutely do, but that does not mean they necessarily should (or have the right to).
Fascism. Private ownership but government control of property.
Governments don't have rights. People have rights. Governments have power.
Regulations regarding rental properties hardly falls into government control of the property... I don't agree with this stupid law, but it is hardly Fascism. Pulling out words like that just for rhetorical effect cheapens the argument.
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