For years, Chestermere has had smoking bylaw 044-08 which replicated much of what was already in the Provincial Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act. However, on November 16th, Chestermere City Council approved a new smoking bylaw to keep our public parks and beaches a smoke free environment.
“The purpose of the newly introduced Smoking Bylaw (009-15) was to restrict smoking in public areas such as parks and playgrounds”, said Chris Lamb, Peace Officer Sergeant with the City of Chestermere.
The public areas that are specifically mentioned in the bylaw are:
Anniversary Park (the beach and green spaces surrounding it)
Bike Park – which is defined as an outdoor area which is designed and intended specifically for the use of bicycles or other small devices – such as the bike park behind Rainbow Creek Elementary school
Cove Beach
Dog Park
John Peake Park
Playgrounds – defined as an outdoor area, intended for recreation use by children, which apparatus such as swings and slides are placed
Skate Park – the area near the Chestermere Blvd. and Rainbow Road intersection (behind Merganser strip mall)
Sports Area
Skating rink – any outdoor surface where the public are permitted to skate
Sunset Beach
Water Spray Park
The penalty for an offence under the new Smoking Bylaw is $200 for smoking in any of the public places listed. It was also discussed at the November 16th council meeting that in fact, smoking in your vehicle in a public parking lot in any of these locations is also a fineable offense.
This new bylaw also includes ‘Electronic Smoking Devices’ which the bylaw defines as “an electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, and includes but is not limited to an electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo or pipe’.
Officer Lamb explains, “The newly introduced Smoking Bylaw does prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in the public places listed in the Bylaw. Other Municipalities that have restricted e-cigarette use are Cold Lake, Bonnyville, Red Deer, Edmonton, and Calgary.”
With winter now upon us, local restaurants, bars and other businesses see an increase in patrons and staff barely stepping out the door to have a smoke. However, there is also a fine that will be issued if smokers don’t give the required distance to a business entry way.
“In regards to smoking in entranceways that is covered under the Provincial Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act, and if someone were smoking with 5 meters of an entrancement they could be subject to a $287 fine”, said Officer Lamb.
To read the bylaw in its entirety, visit http://www.chestermere.ca/DocumentCenter/View/6429
