HOA Question Smoking on Children's Play Areas

Can the HOA do anything to help with a situation in the childrens play area on Avonworth Square? There are upwards of 25 cigarette butts on the mulch right by the slide, and many more on the grass by the path to the play area. Someone is knowingly sitting on the play area and leaving their disgusting habit behind.

My child tried to pick up one of the butts last week and I am blown away that someone would repeatedly deface a childrens play area. Can signs be posted to ask that people respect a clean, safe place for CHILDREN that is not a place for smoking? Indeed, smoking should not be allowed within a set distance of the playgrounds, passive smoking is now a know risk factor for heart disease.

I am saddened that this has to be pointed out to people in a shared community.

 

No, the HOA cannot create common decency and respect from the people that live here.

 

sad but true, all the signs in the world won't stop someone from stomping out cigarette butts on playgrounds.

 

New studies suggest that Smoking not only causes obvious major health problems to those who smoke and are unlucky enough to get the second hand... but also leads to irreversible damage to your genetic structure and RNA/DNA that gets passed down generations.

The longer you smoke the more damage that is done, but even a women between the ages of 18-22 who smokes and stops before having kids later in life, will have kids and grand kids with higher risks of obesity, cancer, asthma, allergies and heart disease.

Scary stuff... if these reports are substantiated with further studies, then I really think our society should take steps to make smoking illegal. It is true that there are many things you can do to damage your own future and that of your children (and we don't want a big brother controlling every single thing we do)... but in a case like this I am all for outlawing cigarettes, or adding a ridiculous tax to them (like $50 a pack)

Never going to happen with all the money/lobbying involved in the industry though

 

You can't ban outdoor smoking in VA, VA is tobacco country. It's history is deeply steeping in tobacco, our state capital is home to the 2 largest cigarette companies in the U.S.

 

That's what they use to say about banning smoking in Virginia restaurants.

 

I had a chuckle last week - overheard a restaurant patron exclaim she did not want to sit outside and eat because of the cigarrette smokers. While there were no smokers outside, my group decided to sit inside because the outdoor cafe abutted the main street with heavy traffic. We didn't want to inhale carbon monoxide with lunch:scaredeyes:

 

Could we put a sign that says something like "Don't be a jackass by throwing your cigarette butts on the ground"?
I am a smoker ( yeah I know, I've tried quiting, easier said than done ) and when I have taken the children to the playground I smoke away from the playground and throw my butts in the trash after I am done. It's not that hard and I find it rather annoying when I see people just throw their butts on the ground.

Throwing your butts on the ground by the way is actually littering and is technically illegal.

 

My sister used to smoke. She was also a tree hugging granola eating dreadlock sporting hippie. One day, she was smoking and driving down the road. A cop pulled her over for throwing her cigarette butt out the window. He didn't know quite what to say when she pulled her cigarette butt minus the cherry (which is what she had dropped out the window) from her pocket.
I will mention that keeping your cigarette butts in your pocket stinks, but littering stinks more!

 

My pants to smell or sometimes my truck somewhat stinks more, but seems at least the non-smokers I know prefer to deal with the smell when they find out it's because I'm not throwing my butts all over the place.
I should also mention that the county dump was also giving out these pocket protector like things that you can put a lit cigarette in and close it then crush it to put it out and throw it out when it's full. Reduces the smell and allows you to collect more and throw them away in bulk rather than having to hunt around for a trash can or stinking up your pocket.

 

i can hear the advertising slogan now...

"Keep your BUTT in your PANTS."

 

How funny is that Nice to see someone has a sense of humor!

 

Someone needs to filter your comments.




ha ha. filter.

 

And I think Dgreene was just blowing a lot of smoke over the issue

 

I see what you guys did...

Still, I do think we should have some sort of sign, along with the "Playgrounds are for children" that are there now ( or are they gone?)

 

Every playground has a sign with the ages the the equipment is designed for. I checked everyone about 3 months ago.

Staci

 

My deck overlooks that playground I'll have to keep my eyes open for this person and photograph them doing it! Then we can embarrass them on here with a photo!