newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ALICIA CRUZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

New Jersey beaches may be smoke-free next year, but for now, smokers hitting the shore this summer are free to light up.

Cape May Deputy Mayor Jack Wicherman told the Press of Atlantic City that Tuesday's City council meeting was just a work session for members to gather information and no decision to ban smoking at beaches was made.

Wichterman, saying he did not want to chase people out of town, noted that Seaside Heights allows smoking on the first 25 feet of beach, but it is outlawed from there to the water. He asked that an "acceptable conclusion" be drawn.

Global Advisors on Smoke Free Policy presented Cape May council members with a plan of action Tuesday, which included making other outdoor areas smoke-free. However, GASP Executive Director, Karen Blumenfeld suggested limiting smoking to the sidewalks and other areas, but strongly urged the council to support a 100 percent ban on outdoor smoking arguing that levels of outdoor secondhand smoke can equal or exceed levels of indoor smoking.

Another concern addressed at the meeting was enforcement of the ban should members move to outlaw smoking on beaches. Councilman William Murray said he favored the restrictions but suggested police initially issue warnings and not tickets that carry fines.

There is legislation pending in New Jersey banning smoking at public parks and beaches. The bill, sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Assemblywomen Valerie Vanieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), is at a standstill.

In 2006, the Garden State adopted the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act. This essentially banned all indoor workplaces and public spaces such as restaurants, bars, sports facilities, schools, retail stores and even some beaches, NJ.com reported.