Smoking in New York City's parks, beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas and other public spaces will be banned from May 23 despite complaints about excessive meddling by government in people's private lives.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the legislation on Tuesday after the city council voted 36 to 12 in favour of the smoking restrictions earlier this month. The law extends the city's existing ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.
"Frederick Law Olmsted hailed public parks as the 'lungs of the city' -- a haven where one could escape the overcrowded, noisy and polluted streets," Bloomberg said in a statement. "We need to ensure that our public spaces provide just that -- a healthy place in which to relax and enjoy the surroundings."
New York joins Chicago and San Francisco with initiatives fighting second-hand smoke in public places.
New York City's parks department will enforce the ban, which said it would give a warning before issuing a $50 fine. Police will not enforce the ban.
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