No Smoking

Carlsbad Extinguishes Smoking On Beaches, Parks

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- A smoking ban affecting Carlsbad beaches and parks has been tentatively approved.

The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously, with Councilman Mark Packard absent, in favor of the ban at its Tuesday night meeting.

If the ban is approved during a second reading scheduled for next Tuesday, it would take affect 30 days later.

The penalty for a first violation would be up to $100, according to Rachel McGuire, the city's communications coordinator.

Carlsbad would not be the first city in the county to pass such an ordinance. That title goes to Solana Beach, which passed its smoking ban in 2003 amid concerns over health hazards and litter. The city of San Diego has also banned smoking on its beaches.

Carlsbad would rely largely on voluntary compliance for enforcement, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The ban would not apply to the five miles of beach in Carlsbad that falls within the state parks system, the newspaper reported.