NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a legislation on Tuesday, banning smoking in city parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas.
Under the new legislation, smoking will be banned in the city's 1,700 parks, along 14 miles of public beaches and in city pedestrian plazas like the one in the heart of Times Square.
Violators could face a fine of 50 U.S. dollars. The legislation will go into effect 90 days after the mayor signed it.
"Creating smoke-free parks and beaches makes sense for many reasons. First and foremost, it will reduce the number of people exposed to second-hand smoke. There are many harmful effects of second-hand smoke," said Bloomberg in a statement.
He said that smoking in parks and beaches not only harms people trying to enjoy these recreational facilities, but also causes a litter problem that harms the beauty of the parks.
The City Council overwhelmingly approved the measure earlier this month. Some council members who voted against the ban, however, said they see it as an invasion of individual rights.
Smoking has already been prohibited in playgrounds, outdoor sporting events and concerts, as well as at bars and restaurants in New York City since 2002. The city has also taken aggressive steps to increase the taxes on cigarettes and prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Over the last nine years, there are 350,000 fewer people who smoke in New York City. Currently, the city still has 950,000 adult smokers and 18,000 teenage smokers.
