Smoke-Free Community Recreation Areas

AN ORDINANCE REGARDING SMOKE-FREE COMMUNITY RECREATION

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, WHEREAS, the Town of Stonington (‘the Town’) cares about promoting good health and quality of life for its citizens and visitors, and

WHEREAS, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, and

WHEREAS, secondhand smoke contains many harmful chemicals and cancer-causing agents and is a serious health risk to humans, especially to infants, children and pregnant women; and increases a non-smoker’s risk for asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer, and

WHEREAS, with the legalization of cannabis in Connecticut, the Town also wants to ensure it continues to promote good health and quality of life for all residents and visitors, and

WHEREAS, the Town wants to ensure the enjoyment of all persons using recreational property, and

WHEREAS, smoking on recreational areas is not regulated by statute, and

WHEREAS,  the purpose of this Ordinance is to provide for the health of and protect the safety of the inhabitants of the Town by regulating, pursuant to Section 7-148(c)(7)(H)(xvi) of the Connecticut General Statutes, activities deemed to be deleterious to public health on property owned by the Town. This Ordinance will enhance the enjoyment of all persons using said property; and

WHEREAS, Section 7-154 of the General Statutes of Connecticut, Rev. 1958, as amended, empowers towns to make ordinances concerning matters not regulated by statute and to provide penalties for the violation thereof.

NOW THEREFORE:  BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGAL VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON IN LAWFUL SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DULY ASSEMBLED THAT THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE BE ESTABLISHED BY THE TOWN OF STONINGTON:

1.  Title - An ordinance to prohibit smoking on or within recreational areas owned by the Town.

2.  Definition - As used in this Ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated.

Recreational Property – means property owned by the Town and which is under the supervision and control of the Recreational Department or Board of Selectmen and used in connection with recreational programs, including athletic facilities, parks, playgrounds, trails and other areas where people may assemble for recreational purposes.

Smoke or Smoking – "Smoke" or "smoking" means the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other similar device, whether containing, wholly or in part, tobacco, cannabis or hemp;

3.  No person shall smoke on or within recreational areas owned by the Town of Stonington.

4.  Penalty - Any person who violates any provision of this Ordinance shall be subjected to a warning, and/or a forty-nine dollar fine ($49.00) for each separate offense or violation. Any and all remedies, which the Town has in enforcing this Ordinance, at law or in equity, shall be cumulative and two or more or all of such remedies may be exercised at the same time.

5.  Signage- The Town shall post a sign or signs on Recreational Property stating such Recreational Property is a “Smoke-Free Zone” to indicate that said Recreational Property is subject to this Ordinance. 

6. This Ordinance shall become effective following approval by Town Meeting and fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper having a substantial circulation within the Town of Stonington.

Adopted: June 27, 2022
Effective: July 19, 2022