The Suffolk County Legislature narrowly passed legislation June 19 to outlaw smoking in most areas of county parks and beaches. Local Democrats were divided on the bill which passed, 10-7. Legis. Steve Stern, D-Dix Hills, voted against the smoking ban. Legis. William Spencer, D-Huntngton, the bills sponser, and Huntington Station Democrat Lou D'Amaro voted for the resolution. "The smoking ban smoking because the effects of secondhand smoke pose a serious threat to the health, safety and welfare of citizens who do not smoke," according to the bill. Smoking will be allowed in designated park or beach smoking areas, golf courses and campgrounds owned or operated by the county, according to the resolution.
No penalties or plan of enforcement is written into the law. Spencer told Patch last month, those caught smoking in banned areas may be asked to leave by park employees but no other penalties will be enforced, according to Spencer. According to the Legislature, many smokers discard their cigarettes on the ground when smoking outside, leaving unsightly litter which detracts from other residents’ enjoyment of county parks and beaches and creates an environmental hazard as toxins from the cigarettes break down and absorb into the surrounding land and water.
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