Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has signed two new bills into law which will stop prohibit smoking from all bus stops and all city-run recreational areas on Oahu. Recreational areas would include all beaches, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools and athletic fields. There will be a $100 penalty for the first violation and up to $500 for three or more violations. The laws will go into effect on January 1, 2014.
Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson commented, "It's a solid step in the right direction toward sound public policy. I look forward to this ban taking effect and to preserving all of our health."
There has been concern that smokers will simply step into the water and smoke there, since that would officially be the responsibility of the state and not the city. However, Mayor Caldwell stated, "We're a nation of laws, and for most of us we abide by those laws. I believe that when we know you can't smoke in parks, we won't smoke in parks." The mayor added that the city will ask the state for the right to enforce the non smoking ban in the water along the shoreline. Caldwell added, "We have this executive order signed by the state of Hawaii that basically gives the City and County of Honolulu at this park (Kuhio Beach Park) jurisdiction into the water. If someone wants to walk into water and smoke a cigarette here, it'll be enforced, and they will be told to stop. So we hope people aren't going to do that to thumb their noses at what is a very good law."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-22-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
