Encinitas Bans Smoking at Beaches

Encinitas CA - The Encinitas City Council voted unanimously last night to join a growing number of Cities that Ban Beach Smoking. 

Back in August 2006, I wrote an article about the City of San Diego’s Ban on Beach Smoking and was surprised to note in my research that the city of Encinitas was the only North San Diego County City that allowed Beach Smoking.  In fact, Encinitas was one of only a few of the Southern California Cities that had NOT banned Beach Smoking.

Even more surprsing is that the State of California still allows smoking on all state beaches, especially since California has been very progressive on the implimention of Smoking bans in other public places. 

Do I sound like I hate cigarette smokers?  Actually, I don’t hate the Smokers.  In fact, if they could find a way to keep the stench all to themselves, AND they didn’t throw their butts everywhere, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.  As Mayor James Bond of Encinitas stated last night, “An overwhelming percentage of laws are created for an underwhelming percentage of people who choose NOT to do the right thing.”

According to the Surf Rider foundation, one in five pieces of trash removed from our beaches every day is a cigarette butt.  

My niece was a first had witness to this just last year when she participated in a “Clean up our beaches day” at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.  On that one beach she and the crew of volunteers picked up over 6,000 cigarette butts in a couple of hours!!!  Sounds disgusting doesn’t it?  But let’s be real here…  Have you ever seen someone smoking on the beach that had an ashtray?  Would you even consider letting your kids play in a public ashtray? 

If your answer is no to either of these questions then give the Encinitas City Government a call or drop them a note.  Tell them you support their efforts in Banning Smoking on the Encinitas Beaches!

The City of Encinitas phone number is 760-633-2600 and their address is: City of Encinitas, 505 Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas, CA 92024.