Illegal to Smoke at Home: Butt Out?
Two new legal commandments have been delivered to the Silicon Valley town of Belmont, California:
Thou shalt not smoke in thy apartment
Thou shalt inform authorities of anyone who does smoke in an apartment
Belmont is home to America’s most restrictive secondhand smoking law, which now makes it illegal to light up in an apartment or condo that shares a wall, ceiling, or floor with another unit. Violators face a $100 fine from the city, as well as eviction if smoking violates their lease agreement.
Additionally, the new law makes citizens responsible for enforcing it by encouraging them to call authorities and report their neighbors if they light up in any home other than a free-standing house.
All of which has left some residents fuming—outside.
“I’m absolutely outraged,” said one apartment dweller who now must leave home to smoke her two packs a day. “They’re telling you how to live and what to do, and they’re doing it right here in America.”
Proponents of the new law, including the California Lung Association, see it differently. “They simply said that secondhand smoke is no less dangerous when it’s in your bedroom than in your workplace,” explained a spokesperson.
“They” is the Belmont city council, whose members have received hate mail for passing the no-smoking-at-home ordinance, which one former council member likens to other matters of shared-living etiquette. “You can’t walk around naked in your house with the blinds open, or you’ll get arrested,” he said. “You can’t play loud music in your house and bother your neighbors. It’s illegal.”
But even some supporters of smokers’ responsibility to so-called third parties, such as neighbors, are questioning whether Belmont should butt out. “There are good scientific and public health reasons for restricting smoking in closed public spaces,” said an expert in public health ethics. “But when such restrictions are extended to beaches, parks, sidewalks and now to the homes of smokers, the argument that third-party harms must be prevented becomes increasingly untenable.”
Tell us what you think: Should smokers be responsible for their neighbors’ health? Should citizens be responsible for turning in at-home smokers? How far should government go in determining what you can do in the privacy of your home?
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Married
Car exaust is alot worse than smoking because as a machanic,no car is burning clean. People that jog,ride bikes have already developed lung problems.In order to stop smoking,they will have to provide everybody with a electric car,then maybe i will quit.
Jeffrey C Potter | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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smokers' right
i ju want to say that smoking is worse but not other drugs..
i am a non-smoker. this is instane! government need to stay the butt out of it..
Ann | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Mr
I am a smoker. I have smoked for about ten years now. I do feel that it is necessary to have restrictions on smoking in public places like restaurants and such. I do not think, however, that our government should be able to put restrictions on smoking inside of peoples homes. I am sitting in an airport right now and I totally agree with the restrictions they have in here. There are too many children and elderly people to effect their health. I do think though that they should have separate rooms for smokers so that the fumes do not pass to the non-smoker area. I don’t see how this could hurt the non smokers. Also, all the research I have done claims that second hand smoke has not even been proven to cause all these serious health risks. I think more research is needed in that area, and the research must not be so biased (like it is from the American Government or Anti-Tobacco agencies). I believe smokers should have restrictions but not in their own homes. That is their property and they should have the right to do what they please. If a certain apartment building wants to ban smoking then that is great. Smokers should not choose to live their. But to all the homes and apartments people have lived in for years and now their being told to not smoke, that is wrong. America is supposed to be about freedom to live the way you choose as long as it doesn’t effect any other human being, and that should be upheld. What you do to your own body should be your choice.
clayton | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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retired
I am a smoker and really enjoy smoking,. I don’t mind banning smoking in public places (restaurants etc..) but I heard they want to ban smoking outside too, that’s rediculous, a California fire emitts more poison in one day then all the smokers do for 10 years. The government tells us what to do since the day we are born, how long will it be go before they tell us what to eat, read,and other priveliges we now have????????????????????????
leo gorski | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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xxxxxxxx
I agree with the great majority of the comments previously made regarding this issue. It is simply ridiculous to ban cigarette smoking in outdoor places or in people’s private homes (be it apartments, condos, etc). That this is even a subject for debate is indicative of the idiocy of some so-called moralists to attempt to determine other people’s lifestyle when the only one potentially affected is the smoker. Regarding the outdoors, common sense should rule. Before smoking outdoors is determined illegal, one would have to ban all forms of public and private transportation (fumes) as well as all manufacturing pollutants. Are these moralists suggesting they would like us all to go back to the Stone Age?
michele | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Smoking at home
We lost billions of tax dollars, which the government sure coud use now, and put a lot of people out of work when the ban first reared its ugly head. People get cancer whether or not they smoke. The number of people who die from smoking is miniscule compared to the size of the U.S. population. Ban smoking at home? Ridiculous and un-American. Go after the real polluters, i.e., factories, car and over the road truck emissions. Has anyone done a study of people living near high traffic areas, i.e., Lake Shore Drive, trucker roads that serve railroad yards, to see how many people have developed lung cancer from emissions?? Tackle the bigger problems instead!
Gerri Heitzman | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Ken did his homework
Ken,
Thank you. Freedom with discretion is a social norm to me. I enjoy a cigarette with a coffee, cocktail, or any time I choose. Some times I put them aside for a week, or several months; and other times I may have 2 in a row. Moderation is the key word and freedom in a democratic society is a must.
Send your article to as many magazines and newspapers for educational purposes. You are bright, insightful, and informed.
dee phillips | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Mrs
I think it is time for everyone,trying to make smokers as second hand citizens.
We have enough regulations now,so I think people should mind their own business.
Barbara Lewis | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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There is smothing scary stupid about people who sm
If someone was smoking next to me, like today at the golf range, and i took out a spray bottle marked “Poison” and sprayed it on them – oh, for about as long as it takes to smoke a cigarette, you can bet they’d be livid, saying that my actions could harm their health – and even, oh my, kill them!
As citizen’s who take care of ourselves, you smoker’s have no right to endanger our health and comfort with your filthy, health endangering habit. The smoke stinks for God sakes!
Get some sense and discipline smokers – look in the mirror, you would think that alone would stop a lot of people. I can spot a smoker immediately – and the signs aren’t attractive.
Also, I rarely hear a discussion about the fact that smokers litter our streets, beaches etc…with their butts and should be fined, just like someone who throws litter on the ground.
kelly Johnston | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Look at the lady in the picture, top of the page
Look at the lady at the top of this page – that alone should deter smokers!
kelly Johnston | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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