KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Monterey Bans Smoking on Rec Trail
Member Center:
MONTEREY, Calif- The Monterey City Council unanimously adopted revisions to the current ordinance regulating smoking in public places. The revised ordinance extends the no smoking ban to the Recreation Trail.
The current state smoking ban regulates smoking in places of employment, playgrounds, day care facilities, schools and public buildings; a current City ordinance bans smoking on beaches.
The ordinance also bans smoking in all enclosed buildings open to the public, other transportation such as taxicabs and buses, outdoor service areas including ATM and ticket lines, covered parking garages and stairwells, any location where the owner declares the area non-smoking, and indoor places of employment not otherwise regulated by state law.
The city says that the intent and purpose of prohibiting smoking is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by reducing the number of locations where exposure to second-hand smoke can occur.
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), second-hand smoke can cause or exacerbate a wide variety of adverse health effects, including asthma, cancer and respiratory infections in people of all ages.
The California Air Resources Board identifies second-hand smoke as a toxic air contaminant, so it is now listed in the same category as the most toxic automotive and industrial air pollutants.
The new ordinance will take effect in 30 days.
