Smoking cigarettes and vape pens is no longer allowed in St. Johns County’s parks and on its beaches. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a new rule Tuesday.

The move came after students from Washington Classical Christian School spoke up during a county meeting last summer asking for a change.

Seventh grader Charlotte Clay was one of those students. In August, she said that improperly discarded vape pens can be hazardous and that cigarette butts are common on beaches.

RELATED: Jax Beach bans smoking and vaping on the beach

“When people choose to discard a vape pen away on the  beach, an elementary schooler, a middle schooler or even a high-schooler could find it and be tempted to try it,” Clay said. “I know a lot of boys who would be tempted to try it when nobody’s looking.”

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Months later, St. Johns County’s new rule makes smoking in a county park or on a beach punishable by a fine. In addition, cigarette butts and e-cigarette paraphernalia are now classified as litter. 

Cigar smoking still allowed

The county cannot prohibit cigar smoking in parks and on beaches. That carve-out in the law comes from the State of Florida. In 2022, the Legislature agreed to allow cities and counties to prohibit cigarette smoking and vaping in parks and beaches, but also required that cigar smoking be left untouched.

Still, students from Washington Classical and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind offered their support for the measure.

Only one speaker opposed the measure Tuesday morning — Tom Reynolds, who did not like the idea of law enforcement officers telling people to stop smoking.