Public parks seem to be the next place where smoking may be forbidden. The Board of Health will be holding a public meeting on February 28th at 9:30am in the Council Chambers to discuss a by-law that would ban smoking in all city parks, recreation areas including beaches, playgrounds, pools and playing fields. The goal of the city is to minimize health risks of second hand smoke and smoking in general that remains to be the leading killer in Hamilton.
If the by-law is passed, the city will work with the province to figure out set fines, which will most likely be aligned with current no smoking by-law fines. Under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, smoking in the workplace or indoor public spaces such as stores or covered patios can lead to a $305 to $365 fine.
How will this be enforced? If the cigarette police catches an “illegal” smoker, do they actually think the individual will stand there while they write them a ticket. I by no means am a smoker, but what’s going to stop someone from just tossing the cigarette and walking away, then denying the whole thing. It could be the cops issuing the tickets, but aren’t cops here to solve bigger problems? Time will tell if council passes this, and if they do, good luck enforcing it.
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