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What is Secondhand Smoke? |
| Smoke-Free Playgrounds, Beaches, & Athletic Facilities | |
| Smoke Free Portland Home | |
| For More Information |
1: What is secondhand smoke?
2: How is smoking defined?
3: Where is smoking prohibited (not allowed)?
4: Is smoking allowed on school playgrounds?
5: How will the ordinance be enforced and what is the
penalty for violating the ordinance?
6: Why won’t designated smoking areas work?
7: Does this ordinance infringe on someone’s choice
to smoke?
8: Do other places in Maine and the nation have
smoke-free parks ordinances?
9: Who do I contact for more information?
10: How do I get help to quit smoking?
Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke in the air from a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe and the smoke exhaled by a person who is smoking. Secondhand smoke is a known cause of cancer in humans. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, more than 60 of which are known to cause cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in America.
Because a child’s body is still growing, secondhand smoke is especially dangerous to them. Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to develop ear infections, allergies, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.
Secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
From The Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine, 2008.
Smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or having in one’s possession any lit cigar, cigarette, pipe, weed, plant or other combustible substance in any manner or any form.
3: Where is smoking prohibited (not allowed)?
This ordinance prohibits smoking at or within 20 feet of City of Portland owned or maintained beaches, playgrounds and athletic facilities (except in specifically designated areas).
Beaches: Smoking is prohibited on or within 20 feet of East End Beach.
Playgrounds: Smoking is prohibited on or within 20 feet of playgrounds and play areas that are owned or maintained by the City of Portland. For example, smoking is not allowed on or within 20 feet of the playground and wading pool at Deering Oaks Park. Click here for a complete list of playgrounds.
Athletic Facilities: Smoking is prohibited on or within 20 feet of City of Portland owned or maintained athletic facilities. “Athletic facilities” means all ball fields, courts and their spectator area(s), for example bleachers. Click here for a complete list of athletic facilities.
4: Is smoking allowed on school playgrounds?
All school grounds are covered by state law and are required by law to be tobacco-free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
5: How will the ordinance be enforced and what is the penalty for violating the ordinance?
The City of Portland will place signs in the areas covered by this law as well as in other appropriate locations. City staff will notify park users through existing communication channels. This ordinance emphasizes public education and voluntary compliance.
Prior to issuing a citation for a violation of this ordinance, a police officer or any law enforcement or code enforcement officer shall issue one verbal warning to an individual. If the individual fails to comply after one warning, said individual shall be given a citation to appear in court. If the individual is found in violation, the court may impose a minimum $50 fine.
6: Why won’t designated smoking areas work?
Separating smokers from non-smokers does not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
7: Does this ordinance infringe on someone’s choice to smoke?
This ordinance is about the smoke, not the smoker. The ordinance is not asking people to quit smoking. Instead, the purpose of the ordinance is to decrease the involuntary exposure of individuals to secondhand smoke.
8: Do other places in Maine and the nation have smoke-free parks ordinances?
Yes. According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 70 towns in Maine have smoke-free parks ordinances. Nationally, hundreds of cities and towns have various smoke-free parks, beaches and playgrounds ordinances.
9: Who do I contact for more information?
For more information on signage, supportive materials for residents, coaches and other park users, the health effects of secondhand smoke or resources to help quit tobacco, contact Healthy Portland, a program of the Public Health Division, Health and Human Services Department, healthyportland@portlandmaine.gov or 756-8021.
For more information on locations covered by this ordinance, contact the Recreation and Facilities Management Department of the City of Portland at 756-8275.
10: How do I get help to quit smoking?
Here are three of the options available to help individuals who wish to quit using tobacco:
Call the Maine Tobacco HelpLine. The HelpLine offers supportive, confidential, free phone support for those thinking about quitting or who want to quit using tobacco. Eligible callers may qualify for nicotine replacement therapy (i.e.: gum) through the Medication Voucher Program. The number to call is 1-800-207-1230.
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss options for treatment and support.
Check out this list of tobacco treatment services organized by county: