The city of Calabasas, California has gone further than nobody else in the so-called war on smoking.
Cities across the country have banned smoking in all kinds of places, but the upscale Southern California city of Calabasas is doing them all one better. On Friday, a city ordinance went into effect that prohibits smoking in any public area where others can smell cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke.
Smokers are banned from sidewalks, parks, outdoor businesses, restaurant patios and condominium common areas and are only allowed to light up 20 feet from a path. Furthermore, the ordinance grants nonsmokers the right to tell smokers to snuff out their butts. If smokers refuse, the ordinance says, they will be liable for stiff fines. The only places where smokers will be allowed untrammeled puffing are designated smoking areas at shopping malls.
Ridiculous. Why not just ban tobacco altogether ?
