Manalapan bans smoking on public recreation fields

Manalapan bans smoking
on public recreation fields
Amended ordinance
will allow smoking
in parking lots
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN — Smokers who light up at parks and recreation fields will have to go to the parking lot to puff away from now on.

By a vote of 5-0, the Township Committee on Sept. 24 adopted an ordinance that prohibits smoking at public facilities. The original ordinance was amended to allow smoking in the parking lots at the public facilities.

The ordinance prohibits smoking or carrying lighted cigarettes, pipes, cigars or other tobacco products within all publicly owned or leased grounds, ball fields, and other recreational areas leased or owned by the township, and all property leased or owned by the township adjacent to school buildings, upon which the public is invited or permitted and where children gather for recreational activities.

The ordinance establishes penalties for violations, contains an enforcement provision and discusses the placement of proper signs at the locations. The amended ordinance will permit smoking in all parking areas, unless signs expressly indicate that smoking is prohibited.

Township Attorney Don Lomurro noted that school property is covered by regulations set forth by the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education and the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education (Manalapan High School).

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on school property, including the parking lots, playing fields and in the school buildings, he said.

Lomurro made it clear where smoking would be permitted.

"You can’t smoke anywhere on [township owned or leased] public [lands], except in parking lots," he said. "Parking lots are for smoking."

Resident Lou Langlais of Alexandria Drive asked about the fines.

According to the ordinance, the fine can range from $50 to $1,000, or it may be suspended at the judge’s discretion in lieu of attendance by the offender at his or her own expense in a smoking cessation program recommended by the local health department.

"I think the amendment allowing smoking in parking lots is a good compromise," Langlais said.

Committeewoman Mary Cozzolino said she was concerned the parking lots will become filled with an excessive number of cigarette butts.

Lomurro noted that an ordinance regarding littering and the disposal of litter would include throwing cigarette butts in the proper receptacle in the parking lots. He said signs will be placed at the entrance to the recreation facilities and other public areas.