Earlier this week, New York enanced their smoke-free air law by making it illegal to smoke in parks. On the first day the "new" law took effect, Monday the 23rd, Mother Nature helped by making it rain. By bringing rain, she prevented everyone from lighting up for the day.On the second day, a reporter from the NY Times took to the park to test the law. Although he escaped without a citation or a police contact, he ran into some fellow New Yorkers who "educated" him on the law. The reporter, Alan Feuer, wrote an article about his experience which you can read below.
His story reminded me of our smoke-free air law here in Wisconsin. Our statistics might show that law enforcement didn't have to write tickets and some then believe "what's the purpose for having the law?". But the law uses fellow Wisconsinintes to enforce the law, using people to promote/educated others about the law. Which makes social norms more powerful that legal laws.
1 comment:
I think anywhere there is children and families, it's okay to enforce a no smoking law. Why put them at risk with second hand smoke.
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