After a brief stop at the Town Council’s Management & Planning meeting Thursday, an ordinance to ban smoking and vaping on town-owned beaches will come back before the Town Council on March 16th.
The ordinance was originally on the council’s March 2nd agenda but it was pulled before it could be discussed because it never went through the M&P process, which is typically where direction for ordinances is given to staff.
Smoking is already prohibited inside all town owned buildings. Lee County prohibits smoking at Bowditch Park, Crescent Park, Lynn Hall Memorial Park and the pier (when they all reopen).
Unfiltered cigars are exempt from being prohibited by state law.
If approved at a future Town Council meeting, a second public hearing will be held at another council meeting before it goes into effect.
How this type of ordinance will be enforced is always the big question. Town Manager Will McKannay said, “This was not meant to be punitive. We’ll educate the public. This will be similar to the leash law which at times is enforced by peers through courteous discussions.” If that doesn’t work, the next step would be to call the town or LCSO.
Voice your opinion about the proposed smoking ban HERE.
Local journalism is hard work. If you appreciate the most in-depth reporting on Fort Myers Beach, please support what we do HERE by Venmo, Zell or PayPal. Thank you.
Would someone enlighten me as to why unfiltered cigars are protected?
I know it was an important industry “back in the day”, but why still?
Because they are biodegradable, unlike cigarettes with filters or disposable vape pens.
The cigar smoke is the worst sitting on the beach and having someone park next to u downwind.
As an former smoker I do appreciate the ban
Its common courtesy
It’s to bad we can’t ban the cursers using profanity on the beach
Nobody seems to care how many F bombs they use
Even when children are around
Our society is just allowing people to say filthy words with no consequences
Oh, it’s called free speech
But you can’t call fire in a crowded theater
How sick and disgusting have we lowered ourselves
I don’t smoke however this is something that should be allowed. If the cigarette smoke bothers me I just move up wind. Or have a smoking section on the beach. Lol.
Forget the smoke—this ban is all about the trash. Unlike indoor rules, this targets the endless litter of cigarette butts, which is why unfiltered cigars get a pass. Vapers can be just as guilty, tossing their cartridges into the sand like they’re disposable.
Why don’t they enact a law that would have a meaningful impact? Like, “No, surf fishing from the beach”? Surf fishing attracts smaller bait fish, which in turn attract predators. Why are we allowing them to chum our waters? I never go swimming around surf fishermen. Then they would have to use our new Pier, which would have a fee to enter as a fisherman ( state license on Pier)
you have got to be kidding me Karen.
Steve, it takes one to know one