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A ban on smoking in Hermosa Beach took effect yesterday, meaning that those who enjoy a nice inhale of nicotine will find themselves either quarantined off to sad, tiny areas or fined between $100 and $500, reports NBC Los Angeles.
The ban was voted on by the City Council in October of last year. According to the LA Times, the new regulation disallows smoking in outdoor areas where people congregate, including the city's pier, public parks, outdoor dining areas, and at Pier Plaza. ABC News notes that the ban even forbids restaurants from being enablers by handing out matchbooks.
Intended to protect the 83% of the city's residents who aren't smokers, the ban will also allow for misdemeanor charges to be filed if a person gets more than three tickets.
Hermosa Beach has already banned smoking indoors in places like restaurants and bars, and according to the Daily Breeze, the city stopped allowing smoking on the beach in 2006. Public officials are now embarking on a citywide education campaign to let the public know about the new rules.
