Last year I blogged about Smoking on Balconies (in California), which resulted in varying viewpoints being debated by fellow ActiveRainers.
This week The Santa Monica Daily Press reports that Santa Monica City Council has banned "people from lighting up within 25-feet of a door or window in any multi-unit residential building."
"The new rule, adopted by a 4-1 vote, is aimed at preventing people from smoking on private balconies or patios that are close to neighboring apartments or condos and fulfills a longtime goal of anti-smoking activists".
Although this sounds like a win for non-smokers and anyone who finds second-hand smoke offensive, there's no fine for violating the law.
"Transgressors could be held to account in small claims court. Under the current ban in common areas neighbors are responsible for enforcing the law by filing suit against neighbors who smoke".
It appears that this contentious issue is far from resolved and will certainly be subject to much more discussion.
