Smoking and vaping in public places throughout Garden Grove like parks won\u2019t be banned anytime soon after city officials wanted more time to review a proposed no smoking law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed ban defines smoking as the \u201crelease of gases, particles, or vapors into the air\u201d and includes use of cigarettes, cigars, vapes and other drugs that are smoked, including cannabis, and bans the disposal of \u201csmoking waste\u201d like cigarette butts and vape cartridges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garden Grove\u2019s original proposal would apply to all city parks, and within 50 feet of the park, including parking lots. Violators could see an initial $100 fine, followed by a $200 fine for a second violation and $300 for a third within a 12-month timeframe.<\/p>\n
City council members pushed back consideration of the smoking ban, after concerns of clarity and enforcement were raised during last week\u2019s meeting \u2013 voting 4-2 to push to delay adopting the ban, with Councilmembers Yesenia Mu\u00f1eton and Ariana Arestegui voting against the delay and Councilmember Phillip Nguyen absent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the meantime, officials said they\u2019ll review similar bans in nearby cities and review the wording of the ordinance.<\/p>\n
At the Jan. 27 meeting, Councilmember George Brietigam said he had concerns about people disregarding the ban.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do get what it\u2019s trying to do, and I applaud the work that was done on this, but I\u2019m looking at the reality of it,\u201d Brietigam said. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to get cooperation, and then the police are going to have to come out.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposed smoking ban comes as the city has introduced a Park Security pilot program<\/a>, implementing security in Garden Grove public parks to reduce vandalism, drug use and overnight camping.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Jan. 27 meeting, Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein suggested that these guards could enforce the new ban, instead of city police.\u00a0<\/p>\n City Attorney Omar Sandoval said that it would require a change in job description and training to be carried out.<\/p>\n The smoking ban was spearheaded by Mu\u00f1eton.<\/p>\n \u201cProtecting the health and safety and overall wellbeing of our community, especially children and families who use our parks, is a key motivation behind this ordinance,\u201d Mu\u00f1eton said.<\/p>\n Councilmembers Brietigam, Cindy Ngoc Tran and Joe DoVinh all had concerns with enacting the smoking ban as is, with all three citing a need for clarity.<\/p>\n Brietigam also said California state law already bans littering and Garden Grove bans smoking near schools, calling the proposed law redundant.<\/p>\n DoVinh suggested signage in public parks could be updated to deter smoking, instead of banning it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe activism is welcome, but the consequences may be unintended, that we would get an unfair application towards smokers,\u201d DoVihn said at the meeting. \u201cSmokers are taxpayers too. They pay to have the use of their parks.\u201d<\/p>\n Smoking and Tobacco Shops Under Fire in OC<\/p>\n As Garden Grove city officials mull over their proposed smoking ban, other Orange County cities have already cracked down on tobacco and vape use in public places.\u00a0<\/p>\n [Read: No Smoking: Orange County Increasingly Bans Tobacco, Vapes in Public<\/a>]<\/p>\n Since 2019, Irvine has largely banned smoking<\/a> in public areas and privately owned common spaces, including sidewalks, trails and parking lots.<\/p>\n At the end of last year, Cypress approved a similar regulation<\/a>, banning smoking in outdoor dining areas, public event areas and within 100 feet of schools.<\/p>\n The Cities of Buena Park<\/a>, Laguna Beach<\/a> and Dana Point<\/a> all have their own bans on smoking.<\/p>\n Smoke shops and their sales have also been under scrutiny, as underage smoking and illegal sales of drugs like nitrous oxide and marijuana have been on the rise.<\/p>\n Anaheim<\/a> and La Habra<\/a> both placed moratoriums on new smoke shops so city officials could establish additional regulations to curb underage and illegal sales of tobacco and marijuana.<\/p>\n Whippets \u2013 recreational nitrous oxide \u2013 have been banned at the state level, but now cities are cracking down on loopholes that allow users to get the gas legally.<\/p>\n Nitrous oxide can be used as a medical anesthetic, culinary tool \u2013 being used to make whipped cream \u2013 and for car performance.<\/p>\n If retailers don\u2019t ask buyers how the gas will be used, they can legally sell it.<\/p>\n Local bans are trying to close this loophole.<\/p>\n Fullerton introduced their own ban in 2025 after reporting rises in nitrous oxide related car accidents, increasing 700% over 5 years.<\/p>\n [Read: Fullerton Joins OC Cities Cracking Down on Whippets<\/a>]<\/p>\n The city\u2019s ban penalizes sellers with a $1,000 fine and\/or six months in county jail.<\/p>\n Cities of Santa Ana<\/a>, Stanton<\/a> and Costa Mesa<\/a> have all brought in similar bans on the inhalant.<\/p>\n