Lighting up a cigarette in a Coquitlam park could soon come with a $500 fine as the city tries to curb the risk of fires during the hot, dry summer.
The city's smoking control bylaw already prohibits smoking in public parks at any time, with violators facing a $75 fine.
But a weeks-long dry spell and record-setting heat have come with a fire hazard rating of high to extreme much earlier in the summer than usual.
"Despite public awareness on the topic, cigarette butts remain one of the leading causes of fires in parks, forests and dry grass," said Andrea MacDonald, Coquitlam's manager of bylaw and animal control services.
On Monday, Coquitlam council passed first three readings of a bylaw amendment to hike the fine for smoking in a park to $500 ($400 if paid within 14 days); the amendment is scheduled for final reading July 27.
MacDonald said bylaw officers have issued nine warning tickets to smokers since the beginning of July, when the fire risk was pushed to extreme.
Officers have already stepped up their park patrols as part of their dog enforcement blitz and will also be on the lookout for smokers. They'll also be responding to complaints and ask residents who see someone smoking in the park to contact their bylaw enforcement office at 604-927-7387 or 604-927-3085 or by email at [email protected].
In Port Moody, bylaw staff have been asking smokers and anyone found using a barbecue to put them out but haven't been issuing tickets.
"We're just making sure they're aware of the regulations… and so far everybody's been really receptive," said Robyn MacLeod, PoMo's manager of building, bylaw and licensing.
No tickets have been issued so far in Port Coquitlam, where officers will respond to complaints but won't be proactively monitoring local parks.
City spokesperson Pardeep Purewal said a smoking control bylaw violation comes with a $100 fine ($150 if not paid within 14 days) for smoking in a place of public assembly.
Anyone who wishes to lodge a smoking complaint can contact PoCo's bylaw office at 604-927-5440 or [email protected].
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