Margate, and all Jersey Shore towns, have the authority to ban smoking on their beaches. The question is, how would they enforce that ordinance? That’s the challenge.
Longport adopted its smoking ban on March 22. Will that compel Longport beach smokers to take a little walk across the border…and crowd onto the Margate beaches in order to light up?
A petition has already collected 150 taxpayer signatures supporting a Margate smoking ban.
Listen to Margate Commissioners discuss beach smoking bans on June 1, 2017:
Need more info about the harmful effects of smoking in your town? Contact Kim Burns, Southern Regional Coordinator at Atlantic Prevention Resources / Smoke Free for a Healthy New Jersey.
626 North Shore Road, Absecon
609.272.0101
tobaccofreenjsouth@atlprev.org
There is an existing state ban on smoking in public buildings and parks. In regards to beaches, the State of NJ is letting each municipality make their own decision on that one.
Beachgoers have complained of second hand smoke, discarded butts on beach, vaping, cigars, and even the smoke of BBQ’s grilling hotdogs.
Note: Ventnor will allow BBQ’s every weekend, starting this Summer 2017.
But second-hand cigarette & cigar smoke is the big problem. The carcinogenic has the uncanny ability to waft long distances down the beach.
To be clear: officials and beach-goers don’t want lifeguards & cops to enforce an ordinance like this. They have much better things to do. Maybe we can just be considerate & respectful?
318 towns in NJ have enacted some kind of smoking ban. There are now 14 smoke-free beaches in NJ.
Self-enforcing seems to work, once high-profile signage and better education is implemented. Guard stands, Beach Patrol HQ, beach entrances, trash cans, etc. Anecdotal evidence shows that this likely will cut down most smoking. Eventually, NOT smoking on the beach becomes the norm, much like on planes or in office buildings.
Belmawr NJ is a town with the longest history of a beach smoking ban.
Residents asked city officials to follow Longport’s lead and ban smoking on the beach.