Council To Consider Smoking Ban On Ocean City Beaches

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City is poised to become the next New Jersey town to ban smoking on the beach. Ocean City Council will consider the proposal on introduction when it meets on Thursday, May 24, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 861 Asbury Avenue.

The proposal calls for a ban on smoking throughout the entire beach, and on all paths leading to the beach, according to the agenda packet. Smoking is already banned on the boardwalk, and at outdoor parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities and the city’s indoor facilities.

There are already 17 New Jersey towns in which smoking on the beach is prohibited. Here is a list of those Jersey Shore towns that have banned smoking on the beach:

• Avon By the Sea
• Barnegat Light
• Beach Haven
• Belmar
• Cape May Point
• Harvey Cedars
• Lavallette
• Long Beach Township
• Long Branch
• Longport
• Point Pleasant
• Sea Girt
• Seaside Park
• Ship Bottom
• Spring Lake
• Surf City
• Asbury Park

State Sen. President Steve Sweeney (D-3) is sponsoring a bill that would ban smoking on all county and municipal beaches. S2534, co-sponsored by Vin Gopal (D-11) and Bob Smith (D-17), was introduced on May 10 and was immediately referred to the Senate and Budget Appropriations Committee. It has a sister bill in the Assembly, but no action has been taken on that proposal yet.

In 2016, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill that prohibits smoking on state beaches. Efforts to ban smoking on public beaches at the state level have been unsuccessful in the past.

The proposed smoking ban is the only item up for introduction, and there are no proposals up for second reading. There are 14 items on the consent agenda.

The city will also honor Maggie Wallace, and declare May 26 to June 3 as Beach Safety Week. To view the full agenda, visit ocnj.us.

Patch file photo