THE VENICE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY TOOK A STEP TO BAN SMOKING ON VENICE BEACHES. THE COUNCIL PASSED A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO LIGHT UP ON VENICE AND BROHARD BEACHES AS WELL AS AT CITY PARKS. THE SOUTH JETTY, VENICE FISHING PIER, AND HUMPHRIES PARK WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE ORDINANCE. SMOKING WILL BE ALLOWED IN PARKING LOTS NEAR THE BEACHES AND PARKS. SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS FELT THE ORDINANCE DIDN’T DO ENOUGH BY ALLOWING SMOKING ON THE PIER AND SOUTH JETTY, BUT OTHERS SAY PUBLIC INPUT SHOWED PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SMOKE WHEN THEY ARE FISHING AND OUTDOORS, AND THEY SIGHTED THAT SECOND-HAND SMOKE IS NOT AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE OF STRONG GULF BREEZES. THE COUNCIL DID SAY THEY COULD REVISIT THE ISSUE AND ENACT STRONGER RESTRICTIONS DOWN THE ROAD. THE FINAL VOTE IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 9TH, AND IF IT PASSES, VIOLATORS COULD FACE A $97 DOLLAR FINE.
