Lavallette Will Ban Smoking on Beaches, Boardwalk

No smoking sign at a local beach.

After years of back-and-forth between both sides, Lavallette officials have made a decision on a perennial Shore issue: beach smoking.

The borough council will soon introduce an ordinance formally banning smoking on the town’s beaches beginning next season. Previously, the council passed a resolution stating the same after receiving a slew of letters from residents asking for the ban to be enacted.

Undoubtedly, a flurry of residents would ask the governing body to consider a smoking ban each summer for several years, but until this season, the requests never generated support from elected officials. After it was brought up at several recent council meetings and residents began letting their opinions be known through correspondence, officials decided it was time to join the majority of New Jersey’s beach towns that have made the sand a non-smoking zone.

---

Get Daily Island News Updates Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

The smoking ban will cover all borough beaches, recreational areas and the boardwalk. Council members had initially considered leaving some areas open to smoking, but ultimately decided that a total ban would lead to better enforcement.

“Banning it only in certain areas is way too complicated,” said Councilman Robert Lamb.

Council President Anita Zalom was the sole member of the council to vote against the ban.