Atlantic Beach bans smoking at beach and parks

In Atlantic Beach, it’s now illegal to use the beach as a giant ashtray.

Citing health and environmental concerns, the City Commission this week unanimously passed a ban on smoking cigarettes in public parks, on the beach and at beach accesses.

Atlantic Beach was able to make the move after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bipartisan law that allowed municipalities to ban smoking in public places, though vaping and unfiltered cigars are exempt from the law. Previously, cities could not take such a move on their own.

Read the rest of this story at Jacksonville Today news partner The Florida Times-Union.