Montgomery County Bans Smoking In Parks And On Trails
By Jim Melwert
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- No more smoking in Montgomery County parks or on trails. The amendments approved by the county commissioners also ban drones in the parks.
Montgomery County First Deputy Solicitor Josh Stein says the smoking ban in county parks comes for two reasons, health concerns but also litter, cleaning up cigarette butts. The ban also covers e-cigarettes and similar vaporizing devices.
"We decided that for the sake of consistency, that way we don't have to decide if someone is smoking a real cigarette, an e-cigarette, we'll just be consistent the whole way through."
The amended rules also ban unmanned aerial systems, or drones except in designated areas.
"We had some incidents where some individuals were using the drones and may have been intentionally chasing some wildlife, including some birds with them."
Stein says there is one area in Green Lane Park where they're allowing drones.
The county is also allowing alcohol in parks under certain circumstance, with proper permits and insurance, for example at catered events like a large family reunion or a wedding.