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WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday


Tulalip ancestors' language alive in spirit
Paine Field attracts interest of commercial air...
Extra traffic patrols planned for U.S. 2 Sunday
Friday
Parachute in Snohomish River causes scare
Open windows a risk for small children
Transit use rises along with gas prices
Thursday


After teen golfer's heart stopped, life gave hi...
Rising oil prices mean county's paying more to ...
Ferry fans hope it'll be given second life
Wednesday


Sultan man's 9-year fight over cleanup ends in ...
Worker accused of faking cancer to steal from s...
Could an earthquake disaster like China's happe...
Tuesday


Without $75,000, Everett Theatre faces closure
Man accused of stealing $450,000 from Coinstar ...
Dino Rossi leads fundraising race in Snohomish ...
Monday


A man without a heartbeat: Everett firefighter ...
Everett man accused of running sex ring faces t...
Republican's YouTube ode to superdelegates
Sunday


My life and bylines: Stories of a lifetime in news
Marysville teenager killed amid chase was sober...
Sent to cheer U.S. soldiers, teddy bear is lost...
 

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CONTACT THE HERALD
Robert Frank, City Editor
frank@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Monday, April 21, 2008

Park smoking not yet snuffed out in Lake Stevens

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

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.


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