Putting tobacco in its place Village will hold Sept. 17 public hearing on proposal to ban outdoor smoking

WARWICK — The Warwick Village Board has scheduled a public for next month to discuss a local law that would prohibit tobacco use and smoking in specific outdoor areas of the village.
The action came after a discussion during the board’s regular meeting on Aug. 6. The skateboard park in Veterans Memorial Park already is a tobacco-free zone and trustee Bill Lindberg is leading the efforts to expand that ban to all nine parks at a minimum.
Village attorney Michael Meth is looking to New York City as a guide for local lawmakers.
“New York City is the most advanced in the country,” said Meth about its law, which defines smoking as “inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any form of lighted object or device which contains tobacco.”

NYC fines up to $2,000

In February 2011, the New York City Council passed a law that prohibits smoking in pedestrian plazas, public parks, beaches and playgrounds among others also under the jurisdiction of the city’s department of parks and recreation.
First-time violators face a $200 fine while repeat offenders could pay as much as $2,000 into the city’s coffers.
The fine for smoking in the village’s skateboard park is $250. Whether that fine would remain the same under a new law remains to be seen.
Although all agreed that cigarette butts litter the village and secondhand smoke is dangerous, some also worried about expanding the ban to other outdoor areas where people congregate and receiving “push back from the restaurants,” said trustee Eileen Patterson, who cautioned the board to not preach about smoking.
Mayor Michael Newhard said he wants to hear what residents have to say about the proposed ordinance and believes any ban would grow organically as smoking becomes less socially acceptable.
The public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Warwick Village Hall, 77 Main St.

By Birgit Bogler