No Smoking at Parks, Beach, Beginning May 1

The Board of Health has approved changes to the town’s smoking regulations that will go into effect on May 1.

The newly revised workplace and public places smoking regulations prohibit smoking, including e-cigarettes, in parks, at town beaches, there is also now a buffer zone of 25 feet around municipal properties. Smoking is prohibited inside membership associations/private clubs, but is allowed in an outdoor area.

Board of Health Chairman Bill Schmidt said the board has been working on these for the past several months, with input from Bonny Carroll, of the Six City Tobacco Initiative, and DJ Wilson of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. A public hearing was held in December.

The new regulations also carry a fine of $25 to $100 per violation. State law states it is a $100 fine to smoke on beach and other places, but the Winthrop Board of Health also wanted to establish a $25 fine for those smoking or vaping in places where smoking is prohibited.

The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited per M.G.L. Ch. 270, §22 and Section 4(c) of this regulation.

Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 270, §22(j) smoking is also hereby prohibited in:

1.      Retail Tobacco Stores

2.      Smoking Bars

3.      Town-Owned Playgrounds, Parks, Beaches and Athletic Fields

4.      the area within 25 feet of any municipal building entranceway accessible to the public, except that this shall not apply to a smoker transiting through such 25 foot area nor to a smoker approaching an entranceway with the intention of extinguishing a tobacco product.

5.      Enclosed indoor spaces of Membership Associations (private clubs)

6.      Nursing Homes

7.      Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfast Rooms

8.      All outdoor areas of restaurants, bars and taverns where food and/or beverages are sold, served or otherwise consumed

9.      Bus Stop Shelters and Waiting Areas