Fairfax County bans smoking in bus shelters (unemployed, bill)

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by betamanlet

food?

Why not allow smokers to smoke in places that smokers choose to go to and non smokers can easily choose not to go into? Why is that that too much for the nanny staters?

personally I would much rather allow smoking in bars and ban it at bus shelters. I can avoid going to bars, or I can selectively pick bars that share my preference wrt smoking.

I cannot easily do so with bus shelters.

But then I don't work at a bar.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

The bus stops they are referring to are the ones enclosed on three sides with an opening at either end on the front. Smoking in one of those will fog it up pretty good. Trust me I know.

How do you that it's only for those types of shelters? I didn't see anything that says that.

I don't like this because it is going to take police away from more important things, and it is just too much government intrusion into people's lives. I really doubt this was a major enough issue to take the time to pass an unenforceable law. I can't see the cops rushing to a call to hand out a ticket for this. Are people going to call 911 to report someone is smoking in the buss shelter? Why would cops enforce this more than they do parking in handicap spaces (which they don't do much of)?? Those are some questions running through my mind. I'm not arguing from any political point of view, nor do I smoke. My questions are serious.

[amIayankee?]

It's going to be interesting if someone takes this to an Appeals Court. Isn't this some kind of breach of privacy? For the record, I'm young, non smoker but like the smell. There are far worse things than the occasional second hand smoke, like BPA in plastic...

[roninsedge]

Originally Posted by dkf747

How do you that it's only for those types of shelters? I didn't see anything that says that.

I don't like this because it is going to take police away from more important things, and it is just too much government intrusion into people's lives. I really doubt this was a major enough issue to take the time to pass an unenforceable law. I can't see the cops rushing to a call to hand out a ticket for this. Are people going to call 911 to report someone is smoking in the buss shelter? Why would cops enforce this more than they do parking in handicap spaces (which they don't do much of)?? Those are some questions running through my mind. I'm not arguing from any political point of view, nor do I smoke. My questions are serious.

It's for any bus shelter. I was just using that particular design as an example, since it is the one at my bus stop.

Honestly, I see this new law being enforced as stringently as the police enforce littering or jaywalking laws. If the police feel like enforcing it or have the time to, they will.

As for the reason to pass this law, it seems like a political maneuver more than anything else. I like the law. I don't understand why make it, when anyone who is courteous to their fellow bus riders would do what the law states regardless.

[betamanlet]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

personally I would much rather allow smoking in bars and ban it at bus shelters. I can avoid going to bars, or I can selectively pick bars that share my preference wrt smoking.

I cannot easily do so with bus shelters.

But then I don't work at a bar.

Exactly, but the nanners staters want to impose. I peresonally would rather as well people smoke indoors, and people can avoid those places, and there not be outdoor smoking, but the nanny staters want to absolutely ban everything they don't like..

Also people who work at bars have the choice or not to work there. And many bartenders smoke themselves. And it's not like exactly bars are health clubs. It's a den of vice. Boozing, bad food, casual sex. Why not just let smoking there? It's not like you're going to will improve your health in any manner....

The nanny staters throw fits if you suggest separate rooms. If they one day had robotic bartenders, automatic bars, they would still throw fits on the suggestion of allowing smoking, and come up with their idiotic "third hand smoke" argument.

[betamanlet]

Originally Posted by amIayankee?

It's going to be interesting if someone takes this to an Appeals Court. Isn't this some kind of breach of privacy? For the record, I'm young, non smoker but like the smell. There are far worse things than the occasional second hand smoke, like BPA in plastic...

Actually I love the smell of stale smoke, the remnants. Not the actual smell of smoke while it's smoking, but later... The smell of pool halls before the nanny staters banned smoking indoors..


To all nonsmokers, remember, one day the nanny staters will come after, tax to death, and then ban something you do/enjoy, becaues think about it, if they get their wish and everyone quits smoking, where will the lost tax revenues come from?

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by dkf747

I don't like this because it is going to take police away from more important things,

I don't think the police are actually going to bother looking for violators. It's mostly one of those psychological things. If people see a sign saying it's illegal, that's enough to make 80-90% stop smoking there--and that's a major improvement. Plus, if the police see some suspicious activity going on, this is one of those laws that they can use as an excuse to make a presence.

[Flamingo13]

I smoke, I ride the Alex. Dash or Metro bus. I do NOT smoke in the shelter, I think it's rude to those that are in the shelter. I smoke outside of it, whether it's raining, snowing, whatever.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I smoke, I ride the Alex. Dash or Metro bus. I do NOT smoke in the shelter, I think it's rude to those that are in the shelter. I smoke outside of it, whether it's raining, snowing, whatever.

Good for you but I'm sure not everyone that smoke follows this rule. Hence the need for the law.

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Good for you but I'm sure not everyone that smoke follows this rule. Hence the need for the law.

I agree! There are always some that smoke in the shelter, and they are really somewhat enclosed, and I think that's extremely rude - I've been tempted to say something, but that's not likely to happen.

Enforcing the "rules" is a different matter, I would love to see enforcement of anti-littering (I ALWAYS make sure my cig. is out and throw in a trash can) - I ALWAYS see people eating, drinking, etc. on the Metro in the stations, and have never seen anybody approach them. I did say something to the person who sat next to me and proceeded to start munching from a large bag of chips: "Did you know you aren't allowed to eat on Metro? I recent had a cockroach crawl on me and it's because they are attracted to food!" - she apologized, said she didn't know.