City of St. Augustine could ban smoking in public parks if ordinance is officially approved

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — There’s a new push to stop people from smoking and vaping in public parks in St. Augustine if an ordinance is passed.

Many people who we spoke with don’t like the idea and if this is officially passed people who are caught smoking would receive a fine.

“The problem is we are trying to fix stupid, you can’t fix stupid,” says Eric Ryden.

That fine could cost people 100 dollars.

Something that Ryden believes is hard to police, and also could stop people from coming to the area.

“It could become such a deterrent that people are saying I’m not coming to St. Augustine because I don’t have to deal with it,” says Ryden.

This idea all came from house bill 105. Which was signed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis in 2022.

It gives counties and municipalities the ability to restrict smoking within the boundaries of public parks.

The city of St. Augustine has a total of 10 parks. That’s according to its website.

Baker Wilcox doesn’t smoke, but he doesn’t see the issue with smoking in public parks

“If it’s not bothering anybody, I don’t see why it would be a problem for anyone to take it away,” says Wilcox.

With smoking comes cigarette butts. Ryden says if people are trashing parks with butts that’s where he has a problem.

“Why smokers when I’m at a stop light I see all those butts sitting on the ground, that is different. That is called a smoker who isn’t courteous enough to the rest of the people,” says Ryden.

The first reading of the ordinance did pass for its first reading. The city will now prepare for its second reading in its next city council meeting.

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