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Bill Would Prohibit Smoking On Playgrounds
November 14, 2013
Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, on Wednesday filed the House version of a measure that would give local governments the ability to prohibit smoking on playgrounds. The proposal would allow municipalities and counties to restrict smoking in local government-owned playground areas as an expansion of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.
The act, approved by voters in 2002, prohibits smoking in most enclosed indoor workplaces.
The Senate version (SB 342) was filed last week by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. Bradley tried to pass a broader bill (SB 258) during the 2013 legislative session that would have allowed restrictions on smoking on municipal or county properties, but it died in the Community Affairs Committee.
Pictured: The playground at the Molino Community Complex. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Bill Would Prohibit Smoking On Playgrounds”
I’m all for it. If people don’t have enough common sense and courtesy to realize that standing around a bunch of kids chain smoking is inappropriate, I’m fine with the government enlightening them. Have some class and get away from the kids to light up.
I see both sides of this. However, I have been in multiple situations where my son is playing on the playground and people are smoking all around him. So while you might be nice enough to not do it right next to a kid, not everybody is like that.
I think it’s a great idea. Get off the play ground. Go to another area of the park. Kids shouldn’t be exposed to the smoke. I don’t want to be exposed to the smoke. If thrown down on the wood fiber (chips) a lot of tax dollars could go up in smoke. Willingly exposing someone to your second hand smoke should be considered assaultt. Exposing a child should be child abuse.
Second hand smoke can kill. Keep it to yourself and while youre at it don’t be a litterbug.
I don’t reallty care if SMOKERS pay taxes. The words PLAYGROUND and PARK tell you there are children in the area. Children neither need to see smoking nor do they need to smell it! and breathe it in.
As a non-smoker with asthma I don’t feel it is fair I have to leave somewhere because of someones nasty habit . It really isn’t fair that I have to deal with hatching up a lung for days because someone decided to light-up! I try to stay away from anyone or anything that will flare up my condition. But, when people have NO consideration for others that is when I get riled up.
Look we are talking about Parks and Playgrounds, places to play, get fit and be healthy. Smoking does NOT seem to fit in with the words healthy and fit. So what is there to discuss?
I am a non smoker. But I have to agree with some of these comments. This bill seems rediculous by telling people what they can’t do outside. The only legitimate idea from this is maybe smokers throwing their cigarette butts on the ground within the play ground or maybe giving kids the wrong idea in making it seem to be ok to smoke. But ultimately I personally think this bill is a little overboard.
Just more senseless legislation.
It’s the “Clean Indoor Air Act” not the “clean OUTDOOR act” …. I am a smoker. I have no problem not smoking in buildings but if I’m outside then I have the right to smoke. I try to be considerate of other people… ie get downwind of non-smokers. People need to be courteous to us also. We pay our taxes the same as everyone else.
Prohibit smoking on playgrounds? Can these people work on real legislation? Leave Americans alone. Smoking cigarettes is still legal. Are they about to ban all barbecue grills? Some playgrounds have grills in case the family wants to spend the day grilling and the kids playing–but perish the thought someone might smoke a cigarette while grilling or relaxing?
I would have to say it is a problem. Those facilities as mentioned are funded by tax dollars by smoking and non smoking patrons who both pay taxes.
Rep. Katie Edwards might want to read again what the Florida “indoor” clean act is.
Perhaps the good Representative has a problem distinguishing between indoor and outdoor smoking areas.Specifically funded by all tax payers.
Is the good Representative saying we need smoking and non smoking playgrounds funded by- 1. smoking tax payers 2. non smoking tax payers.
The bill will not pass due to inequities of limiting who can use a playground but pay tax on those built. I agree children should not be around smoking. But you will never legislate ethics or morals.