Smoke in a park, pay $500: City of Coquitlam considers harsher fines

The City of Coquitlam is considering raising the fine for smoking in a park to $500, more than six times the current amount.

The city said in a statement that despite awareness on the topic, cigarette butts are the number one cause of fires in forests, parks and dry grass.

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The risk of fires caused by smoking has increased this summer because of extremely dry weather conditions and a lack of rain.

The current fine for smoking in a park is $75.00. Current City of Coquitlam bylaws state that no one is allowed to smoke in a park at any given time.

The final reading of the proposal will go through City Council on Monday, July 27.

The city of Coquitlams is asking residents who see someone smoking in the park to call Bylaws at 604-927-7387 or 604-927-3085, or email [email protected]

For more on Coquitlam’s Smoking Control Bylaw, visit www.coquitlam.ca/bylaws.