Bill to ban smoking at public beaches, parks heads to Christie's desk

Publication Date: 2016-05-26

• Author:JOHN C. ENSSLIN
• Publication:NorthJersey.com

Lawmakers sent Governor Christie another bill to ban smoking on New Jersey's beaches and in parks but its' likely to face the same fate as the last measure that called for an end to such smoking in public: a veto.

Both houses of the Legislature passed the bill by wide margins Thursday. The Senate approved the bill 24-6 while the Assembly approved it by 62-7.

But in remarks on a call-in radio program at New Jersey 101.5 Wednesday night, Christie said his basic opposition to the bill has not changed...

Unlike the earlier version, it would allow towns and counties to set aside 15 percent of their beaches as a smoking area. But that exception would not apply to parks.

One other change: golf courses also would be exempt from the ban...