Riel’s Smoking Ban Proposal Is Misguided
August 11, 2007 in Uncategorized
According to an article in the Bradford Era, City Councilman Tom Riel is floating a proposal to ban smoking in Bradford, PA’s city parks.
This is only a thinly veiled attempt to drive a small group of loiterers out of Veteran’s Square on Main street. Granted, this group is generally loud, crude, and considered undesirable. Mr. Riel is trying to find a solution to the problem. However, since he can’t find other legal means to accomplish his goal, he has taken the next easiest way, target a minority. In this case, smokers. Smokers are an easy and popular target for politicians. This proposal will only place an additional burden on law-abiding citizens and law enforcement.
A smoking ban would require the city’s police force to patrol our parks in the same way high school teachers patrol the schools’ restrooms. That is, uless City Council decides to hire a Smoking Enforcement Officer. In order to beautify our city parks would the ordinance mandate prominent “NO SMOKING” signs in the Square and other parks? Of course littering by inconsiderate smokers is a problem, so why not enforce the littering laws? Does it justify criminalizing another class of otherwise law-abiding citizens?
The article quotes Mr. Riel:
“Part of the reason I’m proposing this ordinance is to clean up the public square,” he said. “The people who hang out there keep the people from Emery Towers from going there. The purpose of the city parks is not to be a smoking lounge,” he said. “Let them sit on their front porches and flick the butts in their own yards.”
Again, we all know who the proposal is targeting, and they don’t have yards. If the attempt is made to enforce the ban, this group will simply move on to our sidewalks and the benches in front of businesses. Can we expect an ordinance to ban smoking on sidewalks next? Why not enforce the loitering / vagrancy / littering laws? Will a smoking ban be any easier to enforce?
“People say ‘why don’t you just put up ash trays?’ We’ve tried. They get destroyed, and people use them for projectiles,” Riel explained.
That’s true if you use ashtrays created for indoor use. What about the black tower-style ashtrays businesses put in front of their stores? They are practically indestructible and when they are chained down make poor projectiles. While not everyone would use them, many would. This seems a much more reasonable, and cost-effective approach if the problem is discarded cigarette butts.
“It’s a health and safety issue. The public square is the centerpiece of downtown Bradford. When you are stopped at the light there, you can see the square is riddled with cigarette butts. Something has to be done.”
Yes, littering is a health and safety issue, but we already have laws on the books if they were enforced. I’m surprised Mr. Riel didn’t add, “It’s for the children!”. If he proposed a solution to the problem of illegal immigration, would it be to ban Latin music?
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