If a city bans people from smoking in their homes, should cigarettes be illegal in the entire city?
Lawmakers in two California cities are discussing unprecedented legislation this month that would widen a growing voluntary movement by landlords and resident associations to ban smoking inside apartments and condos. The City Council of Belmont is scheduled to cast a final vote on an ordinance that would ban smoking in apartments and condos. The measure, which won initial approval last week, could trigger fines and evictions if neighbors complain and smokers don`t heed repeated warnings.
In Calabasas, the City Council discussed a proposal that would expand its anti-smoking law to bar lighting up inside existing apartments and most new condos. The council agreed to request changes to the measure that would exempt all condos and set aside a certain percentage of apartments for smokers. The legislative push, which has triggered death threats against council members in both cities, is a controversial part of a mostly voluntary effort to prod landlords and condo associations to adopt smoke-free policies.
I suppose if they ban smoking in the most intimate and private of places, it might as well be a full ban. However, that's not what this is about. This is about banning smoking in apt buildings, where tenants merely rent and where the potential for fire damages extends to others' apts.
^^Or condos - condos are owned, and I don't think they can tell people not to smoke cigarettes on property they own.
Apartments, I understand a little more, but in that case you're renting - you know you're going to have to put up with weird smells and sounds from people unless it's a luxury development.
On 10/7/2007 2:57:33 PM IRLITeach wrote: There's less leverage for a condo, but they still share walls with neighbors and are subject to some pretty restrictive covenances.
True. But we've always lived in a condo or townhouse and I've never heard a peep or smell from any other unit. I smell more smoke outside because it seems most of us smoke out on our balconies. But smoking outside is becoming illegal in lots of places now - in Omaha, they are actually urging people to call the police if they see people smoking in public. You can only smoke in your car or your home there, or some bars.
On 10/7/2007 2:54:13 PM Isthiezak wrote: A full ban is *going* to happen eventually. Just a matter of time.
I think so too - the way they keep raising taxes, all the money we spend on health care for smokers ... I almost wish they WOULD ban it, maybe then I could quit
On 10/7/2007 3:04:44 PM KikiPeepers wrote: On 10/7/2007 2:54:13 PM Isthiezak wrote: A full ban is *going* to happen eventually. Just a matter of time. I think so too - the way they keep raising taxes, all the money we spend on health care for smokers ... I almost wish they WOULD ban it, maybe then I could quit
Those bootleg smokes would start rolling in off the back of trucks in no time. Least the govt can keep some sort of regulations going and make a profit from companies whilst its legit.
I'm a non smoker, but I think that banning people from smoking in their homes is infringing on their rights. I don't want a lungfull of their disgusting smoke, but if they want to kill themselves in their own time, why should I care?
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