I just wanted to know because I heard something on the news but only caught a piece of it and I must say I am confused and slightly miffed. Now before you start thinking that I am against cops FORGET IT. I have the utmost respect for police officers, they put their lives on the line everyday, have to deal with wackos and degenerates then often have to fight their way through the system to get these criminals convicted. But this is just ridiculous.
According to the piece I heard Police Officers will be cracking down on where smokers put out their butts. Sigh -- now read that again -- slowly - to yourself (or out loud if you prefer) OK so here I am, a smoker for almost 30 years now, and although there is a person stabbing another person two blocks away, the officer who is writing me my ticker CAN NOT go to this call because he has already started writing me a ticket because I have placed my butt in an inappropriate place?? Uh huh, ok sooooo now what is this helping to deter the constant buzz that at the end of the month most traffic tickets are written because they have to meet quota? I mean there has to be far more smokers out there than drivers being erratic right? I got verbally attacked once by a woman who didn't like me smoking at a bus stop - mind you I was not in the little shelter, I was standing outside by the curb and the wind was going in the opposite direction from her. It was about 35 degrees at that time and I was in NY. I told her she wasn't even downwind from it and she kept complaining so we exchanged a few pleasantries and she eventually shut up. But I digress, the point is that the government has no problem charging us an arm and a leg for cigarettes (currently around $3.80 per pack here in FL give or take and as much as $9 and $10 per pack in NY!) but yet even though they collect all of these ridiculous taxes, they now want to tell us where we can smoke. As far as restaurants, I can understand that completely. You don't want to be in an enclosed place when you are eating and smell smoke, especially if you are not a smoker yourself. Not a problem, Bars/Restaurants though I disagree, people go to a bar - most of them smoke. So if you want to eat at one of those Bar/Restaurant places - deal with it. Smokers have just as much of a right to enjoy themselves and relax as the next person. If people are outside they should not have to listen to the rantings of people who don't smoke.... it's our personal decision whether or not we smoke and when it's all said and done, the only one I will be answering to is God (at this point, he knows me and who I am ;) ) I mean I have come across some REALLY smelly people in my life but if I were to make a big scene over it and tell them they couldn't eat at a restaurant because they smell or go to a local beach or park - I would be wrong .... right? I was working in Manhattan when I was pregnant with my oldest DS and this guy was standing next to me, on a hot train, with his arm up holding onto the strap and I liked to have passed out from the smell - it was bad. I had to keep swallowing my breath to keep from gagging. He kept giving me these weird , mean looks and finally I had enough. I said to him "You know Right Guard works under the left arm too." He got off at the next stop.
Anyway, I think our officers have enough problems and enough REAL criminals to deal with, without having to deal with this petty BS. If you want to try an enforce these laws, fine.... hire a bunch of "deputies" or whatever you want to call them, cut down the unemployment rate while you're at it and let them deal with it. As a Type A person with ADHD I know that having too many things to do lowers your productivity and thoroughness. Our police officers need to be police officers, not baby sitters.
Enough said.