Delaware cities: Smoking still legal on Rehoboth Beach
Commission limits ban to parks, playgrounds as resort city joins national and regional trend

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It’s lights out for smoking in Rehoboth Beach city parks and playground areas.

The city commissioners approved, by a 5- 2 vote, an ordinance banning smoking in five parks and playgrounds – the tot lots at Lake Gerar and Silver Lake, Central Park, The Grove park and Deer Park.

Violating the ordinance is a civil offense, carrying a $ 25 fine for a first offense.

Commissioner Stan Mills, who drafted the ordinance with Commissioner Pat Coluzzi, said the Boardwalk and beach would not be affected by the ban.

The ordinance takes effect 30 days from its passage April 15, in order to give the city time to make people aware of the ban.

The city is hoping a possible grant will help pay for disposal urns and signage at the designated areas.

Commissioner Bill Sargent voted against the ordinance, stating he wanted to see the state taking the initiative on a smoking ban before the city.

“ I think this is a bit much. No one dislikes smoking as much as I do. So I really have great sympathy, but I think this is kind of overkill,” he said. “ I don’t support it, but I certainly support the intent.”

Commissioner Lorraine Zellers said while Rehoboth is not ready for an all-out ban, the ordinance is a good starting point. She said smoking in the parks is a public safety issue and the ban keeps secondhand smoke away from children.

Commissioner Dennis Barbour, the other no vote along with Sargent, said the intent of the ordinance is good but he didn’t think the premise was appropriate.

“ I think this smacks of social engineering. I think our policy determinations should be based on clear policies like public safety,” he said.

Commissioner Pat Coluzzi said smoking in the parks is a public safety issue, having seen fires caused by cigarettes in The Grove park during the farmers market. Mayor Sam Cooper said he could go along with the ordinance, although he joked that 30 years ago a smoking ban would have never been contemplated.

The News Journal
Apr. 16, 2011

MOLLY MURRAY

Smoking will be banned in parks and playgrounds in Rehoboth Beach but city commissioners on Friday stopped short of a prohibition of smoking on the beach and boardwalk.

The ban will take effect in 30 days to give municipal officials time to post signs and place cigarette-disposal caddies in the restricted areas.

The commissioners’ 5-2 decision mirrors a local and national trend toward restricting smoking in crowded outdoor areas. Bethany Beach, for instance, already has a ban on smoking on most of the beach and the boardwalk, and Lewes prohibits smoking in parks.

“I see no reason why adults should be in children’s parks and playgrounds smoking,” said City Commissioner Pat Coluzzi. “I think this is a good thing to do.”

Besides the public health issues, Coluzzi said, she felt that a smoking ban in parks and playgrounds, where flammable mulch is often used, would reduce the risk of accidental fires.

City Commissioner Stan Mills first suggested Rehoboth officials look at the possibility of a smoking ban in outdoor, public areas. But several commissioners and residents said they worried that in a resort community where the population changes throughout the summer, it would be difficult to market a smoking ban on the beach and boardwalk.

When the question was again raised on Friday, Commissioner Lorraine Zellers said, “I’m not sure we’re ready for that.”

Among the concerns was how city officials would inform a transient population about smoking restrictions.

Two commissioners, Bill Sargent and Dennis Barbour, had issues with the more limited ban adopted Friday.

“I think this is a bit much for a rather small purpose,” Sargent said, adding that he would prefer statewide legislation that restricted smoking in outdoor, public places.

He called the ordinance well-intentioned “overkill.”

State law already restricts smoking in most indoor, public places.

“This smacks of social engineering,” Barbour said, adding that such ordinances should be based on clear policies of public safety.

Enforcement of the ordinance will be handled first with a warning. The maximum fine for any future offense would be $25.

Mayor Sam Cooper said he could live with the new restrictions. He reminded fellow commissioners how much the world had changed with regard to smoking.

There was a time — not that long ago — when almost everyone at commission meetings smoked and ashtrays were provided to spectators, he said.

“If you proposed this 30 years ago,” he said, “you would have been in the minority.”

Contact Molly Murray at 463-3334 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .