Politics & Government
Salem Set To Ban Park, Bikepath Smoking
A smoking ban on the campus of Salem State University has resulted in increased complaints of smoking on the adjacent bike path.
SALEM, MA -- Lighting up is going to get even more expensive for anyone who chooses to smoke on the Salem Common or bike path. City Council passed prdinances Thursday night banning smoking within 50 feet of the Common playground and basketball court, the bandstand, and the bike path. Violators would be fined $50.
Council will re-vote on the proposal in two weeks. Mayor Kim Driscoll had pressed council to move on the measures. The bike path smoking ban was first introduced in 2014, according to the Salem News, which first reported this story. More recently, neighbors have been complaining about increased smoking on the end of the bike path near Salem State University.
"They’ve banned smoking on campus, and now all the students and whoever else is at the university has turned the bike path into their smoking area," Ward 1 Councilor Bob McCarthy said.
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Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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