CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. HIS ARRAIGNMENT DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN SET. NEW AT FIVE THERE’S A NEW PUSH TO MAKE BANS ON SMOKING TO ANOTHER LEVEL. A NEW BILL IN TALLAHASSEE WOULD BAN SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES. WESH TWO MICHELLE MEREDITH IS LIVE IN SANFORD WITH THOSE PLACES THAT COULD GO SMOKE FREE. MICHELLE. WELL, WE ARE HERE AT THE RIVERWALK IN SANFORD AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. AND THEY’VE GOT A SIDEWALK HERE SO YOU CAN TAKE IT ALL IN. YOU CAN WALK, YOU CAN RIDE YOUR BIKE. BUT IF THIS BILL SHOULD PASS, THIS SIDEWALK WOULD BE OFF LIMITS TO SMOKERS. WE KNOW ABOUT BANS THAT PREVENT FOLKS FROM SMOKING INSIDE MANY BUILDINGS, BUT THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT TWO PROPOSED BILLS ONE FROM THE HOUSE, ONE FROM THE SENATE, THAT WOULD ALSO BAN SMOKING OUTSIDE SOME PLACES, INCLUDING SIDEWALKS, STREETS, PUBLIC PARKS, PUBLIC BEACHES, OUTSIDE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, OFFICE BUILDINGS, OUTSIDE APARTMENTS, RESTAURANTS, AIRPORTS, STORES, AND MORE. I DON’T AGREE WITH IT. DONALD AYERS, WHO IS A SMOKER, SAYS WITH THOSE RULES HE WONDERS WHERE HE COULD LIGHT UP INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE AT THAT POINT. AND CHRIS MILLER, WHO DOES NOT SMOKE, SAYS THE PROPOSED BAN IS GOING TOO FAR. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO BE INVOLVED WITH ALL OF THESE CRAZY LAWS. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SMOKE OUTSIDE, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH IT? THERE’S NO REASON TO TAKE PEOPLE’S FREEDOMS FROM THEM. THIS IS AMERICA. THE PROPOSED BAN INCLUDES SMOKING MOST ANYTHING CIGARETTES, CIGARS, VAPING, MARIJUANA AND MARIJUANA PRODUCTS. AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, MANY FOLKS WE TALKED TO ARE ALL IN. I THINK THAT THE SECONDHAND SMOKE IS REAL. I THINK I SMELL IT OFTEN. MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, IT’S DEFINITELY IN THE AIR. MY KIDS SMELL IT. SINCE FLORIDA IS THE SUNSHINE STATE AND MOST OF US ENJOY SPENDING MORE TIME OUTDOORS THAN IN, I THINK THAT FRESH AIR IS A BENEFIT TO EVERYONE. AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET. NOW, THIS DEAL IS NOT SEALED. BUT IF THE BILL SHOULD PASS, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFEC
Proposed smoking ban in Florida could extend to sidewalks and parks
Updated: 10:54 PM EST Feb 10, 2026
A new bill proposed in Tallahassee seeks to extend smoking bans to a wide range of outdoor public spaces, including sidewalks, streets, parks, beaches, and areas outside schools, hospitals, and government buildings.Donald Ayers, a smoker, expressed his disagreement with the proposed ban, questioning where he would be allowed to smoke. “I don’t agree with it,” Ayers said. “Inside your house at that point?”Chris Miller, who does not smoke, also opposes the ban, stating, “The government wants to be involved in all their crazy laws. If somebody wants to smoke outside, what is the problem with it?” He added, “There’s no reason to take people’s freedoms from them. This is America.” The proposed ban would cover smoking most anything, including cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana, and marijuana products. Despite opposition, many residents support the initiative. Briasia McClarity, in favor of the ban, said, “I think that second-hand smoke is real. I smell it often; it’s definitely in the air, my kids smell it.”Elizabeth Preston-Hughes, also in favor, noted, “Since Florida is the Sunshine State, and most of us enjoy spending more time outside than in, I think the fresh air is a benefit to everyone, as much as we can get.”While the proposal is not yet finalized, if passed, the ban would take effect this summer.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —
A new bill proposed in Tallahassee seeks to extend smoking bans to a wide range of outdoor public spaces, including sidewalks, streets, parks, beaches, and areas outside schools, hospitals, and government buildings.
Donald Ayers, a smoker, expressed his disagreement with the proposed ban, questioning where he would be allowed to smoke. “I don’t agree with it,” Ayers said. “Inside your house at that point?”
Chris Miller, who does not smoke, also opposes the ban, stating, “The government wants to be involved in all their crazy laws. If somebody wants to smoke outside, what is the problem with it?” He added, “There’s no reason to take people’s freedoms from them. This is America.”
The proposed ban would cover smoking most anything, including cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana, and marijuana products. Despite opposition, many residents support the initiative. Briasia McClarity, in favor of the ban, said, “I think that second-hand smoke is real. I smell it often; it’s definitely in the air, my kids smell it.”
Elizabeth Preston-Hughes, also in favor, noted, “Since Florida is the Sunshine State, and most of us enjoy spending more time outside than in, I think the fresh air is a benefit to everyone, as much as we can get.”
While the proposal is not yet finalized, if passed, the ban would take effect this summer.