Proposed California State Parks Smoking Ban Riles Up Vapers

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Lighting up at state beaches and parks may soon be illegal as lawmakers consider curbing smoking.

They say it would cost just over $1 million to post no-smoking signs across state beaches and parks. If the bill becomes law, people caught smoking or littering cigarettes would be fined $250.

State Sen. Marty Block is on a mission to make smoke-free beaches and parks official.

"It's not 'Should there be a law?' It's 'Why has it taken this long?'" he said.

The goal is to cut down on second-hand smoke, but more importantly limit littering and prevent wildfires caused by cigarette buts.

Smokers aren't the only ones mad at the proposal. Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are also included in the proposed ban.

"It's unjust," said The Vapor Spot manager Mario Weaks, 'beecause we've already shown that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking. We've converted many people from smoking to vaping."

This comes after California passed a law classifying vaping materials as tobacco products and Gov. Jerry Brown signed a package of anti-tobacco laws, including one raising the smoking age from 18 to 21.