Miami Beach's ban on smoking on public beaches begins in January - here are the details

港澳天下彩Public Media | By Grethel Aguila

Published December 27, 2022 at 6:38 AM EST

This fistful of cigarette butts was collected during a cleanup event on Miami Beach in 2008.

Miami Beach has banned the smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products on public beaches and parks starting Jan. 1. Here鈥檚 what to know about the new law.

WHAT MOTIVATED THE CHANGE?

The Miami Beach law comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in June allowing cities and counties to regulate smoking of tobacco products at beaches and parks.

Cigarette butts are 鈥渂y far鈥� the most common item polluting the city鈥檚 beaches, parks and waterways, City Attorney Rafael Paz said in a memo. They鈥檙e difficult to clean up and contain toxic chemicals and microplastics that have a negative impact on the environment.

! Effective January 1, 2023, the City of Miami Beach has banned cigarette smoking and other tobacco products from public beaches and parks as per Ordinance 2022-4509.

Let鈥檚 all do our part to keep our beautiful city clean.
— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews)