ATTENTION BELMONT SMOKERS: CITYWIDE SMOKING BAN

Attention Smokers: You can no longer smoke in parks, the workplace, bus stops, INSIDE APARTMENTS and in CONDOMINIUMS. The violation of this order can result in a citation which can lead to possible jail time. Sounds hard to believe right? Well this is the proposal to ban smoking almost everywhere in Belmont, California. The Belmont City council gave the nod of approval to move forward in the Smoking Ban. Belmont is aiming to be the first in the nation to form this law. Still don't believe me?

All but 1 councilman voted in favor of perusing the steps towards banning smoking. The opposing councilman, Dave Warden stated that "If someone is enjoying a cigarette wherever they are and not bothering anybody, they should be allowed to do that." The major issue among those that oppose the smoking ban is that of not being allowed to smoke in their apartment or condominium. The Belmont council seems to be overly sympathetic to tenants that complain about smelling cigarette smoke through the walls. Who's really that close to the walls? Although other cities limit smoking in multi family units, never has it been heard of just to ban smoking all together. Say for instance you've come home from a hard day and just want to lay back and have a smoke to ease your mind, how would you be able to enjoy anything with the police beating on your door to give you a ticket? Yes a ticket, all because your neighbor next door considered your smoking a nuisance. Repeat complains by tenants of you smoking could probably lead to some kind of jail time. Who would've ever thought we'd see the day where you could go to jail because of smoking, a cigarette that is? Although the council states that smoking is not something the police would track people down for, it's just about clear what would happen if all the "citations" and fees added up.