The borough of Fair Lawn is trying to find away around New Jersey’s state smoking penalties in order to ban smoking in its park. You read that correct. Under current New Jersey state law, if Fair Lawn were to declare its parks smoke-free, a state fine of $250 would be issued to all offenders and it would go on any violator’s record for five years, something the borough council does not think is appropriate. Instead, Council Dan Dunay proposed banning matches, lighters or any other object that could be use to ignite tobacco products within park grounds. It’s unclear whether this proposal will actually be voted on by the full council. The New Jersey General Assembly has already passed a bill that would ban smoking in all public parks and beaches, the Senate has not yet voted on the measure. If it were to pass, the law would make Fair Lawn’s efforts moot. Fair Lawn is located in northeast New Jersey. It is less than 15 miles northwest of Manhattan with a population under 35,000.
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