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Park smoking not yet snuffed out in Lake Stevens

Lake Stevens police have been explaining the city's new law as they find offenders

By Bill Sheets
Herald Writer

LAKE STEVENS -- When it comes to enforcing a ban on tobacco use in parks, Lake Stevens is taking it slowly.

The city's ban -- the first in Snohomish County to apply to all city parks and to be backed up with fines -- took effect last month. Mill Creek bans tobacco use in one park, its Sports Park. Thirteen other Snohomish County cities have voluntary bans, encouraged through "tobacco-free zone" signs.

To get the public used to the idea, Lake Stevens police are focusing on education rather than enforcement, Police Chief Randy Celori said.

So far, police have not written any tickets, he said. A first offense is punishable by a $124 ticket. The fine would double to $248 for a second offense within a year and a third offense in a year could bring up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. In Mill Creek, the penalty is $100 for each offense.

Officers have contacted some people smoking in parks just to let them know about the law, not to write them up, Celori said.

"I think there have been a couple, not too many yet," he said.

The city and the Snohomish Health District had planned a Health and Safety Fair for last Saturday at Lundeen Park to promote the new law, but the event was canceled due to forecasts of bad weather and has yet to be rescheduled.

Lake Stevens first discussed the ban in the context of the health district's Tobacco-Free Parks Initiative. Under that program, the district encouraged the voluntary bans around the county beginning in 2001.

Lake Stevens also has ordered 40 signs with notices of the ban to go up in its parks.

Before the police starting issuing citations, they'll continue to focus on education and give warnings to smokers "for a few more months," Celori said.



Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.