SEATTLE — The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners has endorsed Mayor Ed Murray’s proposal to ban smoking in city parks.
The Seattle Times reported that the change adopted Thursday will simplify the no-smoking rule, which has been in place at beaches and playgrounds and within 25 feet of other people since 2010.
Murray says the outright ban will be easier to enforce and will further discourage smoking by making it less common in public spaces.
The Seattle King County NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State and other organizations criticized the ban, saying it would disproportionately inconvenience and possibly criminalize people who spend time in parks because they have no homes.
Violating the ban may result in a verbal reminder from a park ranger, while persistent misconduct could lead to a trespassing arrest.
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