Palm Beach County, Fla.– A bill recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis granting local governments the ability to restrict smoking in public parks and on beaches in Florida has prompted Palm Beach County lawmakers to take swift action and possibly ban smoking in those areas.

Jessica Gray, the founder of Boca Save Our Beaches, told our partners at WPTV that volunteers have retrieved 123,211 cigarettes on Palm Beach County beaches since 2017.

According to Gray, volunteers have also collected 26,095 lighters, 966 e-cigarettes, and other items related to smoking and vaping.

The City of Delray Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach, and Boca Raton will be discussing this legislation in the coming weeks.

Lynn Gelin, City Attorney of the City of Delray Beach said, “It’s for the overall public’s enjoyment of the beach,”
Gelin went on to say, “I think that’s why this is important, and hopefully it’ll make a difference.”

The City of Delray Beach has had a similar ordinance to the smoking ban in place and Gelin says that, if a citation is issued, the fine could be up to $500.