Pro-environmental measure would ban smoking in parks, beaches statewide
California Political Desk
December 02, 2008
SACRAMENTO – Protecting the marine environment and reducing fire danger statewide are the primary goals of the first 2009 bill by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach.
Caring for our environment is a worthy goal of California´s policymakers," Oropeza said today after Monday´s convening of the 2009-2010 session. "Among the most important obligations of government is to safeguard its residents and be good stewards of our planet. I am hopeful fellow lawmakers will agree."
Oropeza´s Senate Bill, titled The No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act, would establish a fine of $250 for smoking at a state beach or a state park. It is nearly identical to a bill with the same number that Oropeza introduced in late 2006.
Oropeza represents nearly 1 million residents of the 28th Senate District, which hugs much of California´s coast from Venice to Long Beach, one of the largest coastal districts in California.
Oropeza cited several additional reasons to support her bill:
The US Environmental Protection Agency has determined cigarette butts to be the most frequently found marine debris item in the United States.
Smoking-related debris poses a persistent and serious threat to marine life and beachgoers over California´s 1,100 miles of coastline.
Ingestion of cigarette waste by marine animals interferes with their ability to eat and digest food.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, in 2003 smoking-related items (in the form of cigarette filters, cigar tips, tobacco packaging, and cigarette lighters) accounted for 38 percent of all debris items found on beaches in the United States.
Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and can harm the ecosystem as they contain more than 165 chemicals.
According to the California Department of Forestry (over a five-year average), smoking has been found to annually cause more than 100 California forest fires and more than 3,400 acres of damage.
Smoking has caused four of the 25 worst wildfires in California, from 1929-1999, including the 1999 Jones wildfire, which destroyed 964 structures and the 1999 Oakland Hills fire, the largest dollar fire loss in United States history. The $1.5 billion blaze destroyed 3,354 homes, 456 apartment buildings and 2,000 vehicles.
Numerous local governments have already imposed bans on smoking, including bans in local parks, beaches and piers in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Santa Monica, Seal Beach and Solana Beach.
Protecting smokers and cleaning up the environment have long been priorities for Oropeza, a cancer survivor.
Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2008, was Oropeza´s ban on smoking in cars with kids, SB7. It applies to any car with a child younger than the age of 18 in it, even if the car is parked and on private property.
In January 2007, her measure banning smoking in common-use areas such as covered parking lots, adjacent stairwells, lobbies, lounges, waiting areas, elevators and restrooms also took effect.
Caring for our environment is a worthy goal of California´s policymakers," Oropeza said today after Monday´s convening of the 2009-2010 session. "Among the most important obligations of government is to safeguard its residents and be good stewards of our planet. I am hopeful fellow lawmakers will agree."
Oropeza´s Senate Bill, titled The No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act, would establish a fine of $250 for smoking at a state beach or a state park. It is nearly identical to a bill with the same number that Oropeza introduced in late 2006.
Oropeza represents nearly 1 million residents of the 28th Senate District, which hugs much of California´s coast from Venice to Long Beach, one of the largest coastal districts in California.
Oropeza cited several additional reasons to support her bill:
The US Environmental Protection Agency has determined cigarette butts to be the most frequently found marine debris item in the United States.
Smoking-related debris poses a persistent and serious threat to marine life and beachgoers over California´s 1,100 miles of coastline.
Ingestion of cigarette waste by marine animals interferes with their ability to eat and digest food.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, in 2003 smoking-related items (in the form of cigarette filters, cigar tips, tobacco packaging, and cigarette lighters) accounted for 38 percent of all debris items found on beaches in the United States.
Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and can harm the ecosystem as they contain more than 165 chemicals.
According to the California Department of Forestry (over a five-year average), smoking has been found to annually cause more than 100 California forest fires and more than 3,400 acres of damage.
Smoking has caused four of the 25 worst wildfires in California, from 1929-1999, including the 1999 Jones wildfire, which destroyed 964 structures and the 1999 Oakland Hills fire, the largest dollar fire loss in United States history. The $1.5 billion blaze destroyed 3,354 homes, 456 apartment buildings and 2,000 vehicles.
Numerous local governments have already imposed bans on smoking, including bans in local parks, beaches and piers in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Santa Monica, Seal Beach and Solana Beach.
Protecting smokers and cleaning up the environment have long been priorities for Oropeza, a cancer survivor.
Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2008, was Oropeza´s ban on smoking in cars with kids, SB7. It applies to any car with a child younger than the age of 18 in it, even if the car is parked and on private property.
In January 2007, her measure banning smoking in common-use areas such as covered parking lots, adjacent stairwells, lobbies, lounges, waiting areas, elevators and restrooms also took effect.
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