On Monday, New York City took its smoking ban a notch higher by including beaches and parks in the list of areas within the city where smoking is prohibited. This is still a part of the city mayor’s campaign to encourage healthy habits.

The ban is an addition to the 2003 ban on cigarette smoking in bars and restaurants. The city wants to decrease the health risks posed by second-hand smoking.

Police officers will not be the ones to enforce the law but rather the 200 park personnel watching over a total of 29,000 acres of beaches and park land. People caught smoking in those areas will have to pay a fine amounting to $50; however, the city is hoping that it will generally become a self-imposed law.

Thomas Farley, New York City Health Commissioner, said that they do not want people who want to enjoy the fresh air of parks and beaches be exposed to harmful chemicals released by cigarette smokers. Palonia Jourdain, a New Yorker who often brings her nephew to the park, said she is delighted with the ban.

The City Council of New York voted to broaden the smoking prohibitions in New York last February. Chicago and Los Angeles already have similar smoking bans in place.

The people of New York may still smoke in parking lots, streets, sidewalks, and their private homes. Landlords, however, have the discretion to impose their own smoking bans.

Health officials of the city said that cigarette smoking kills at least 7,000 New York City residents in merely a year.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also banned trans fats in foods served in restaurants. Moreover, he required all restaurants show calorie counts on their menus. These are all part of his campaign to a healthier New York.

Smoking on boardwalks, beaches, pedestrian plazas, parks and other public areas in New York City will be prohibited starting from the 23rd of May regardless of complaints about government’s interference in the private lives of people.

The legislation was signed on Tuesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg following the city council’s vote 36 against 12 in approval of the smoking limitations that occurred earlier February. The new law widens the existing smoking ban currently in effect for the city bars and restaurants.

According to Bloomberg, American journalist Frederick Olmsted once said that public parks should be considered as the lungs of the city. It should be a place where individuals can evade noisy, polluted and overcrowded streets. Thus, it is important that public spaces are healthy places for people to unwind and enjoy the environment.

New York is joining San Francisco and Chicago to fight second-hand smoking in public places. Police officers will not implement the band. Instead, NYC’s parks department will be enforcing it by giving a warning prior to handing over a fine worth $50.

Other than the fight against smoking, Bloomberg also encouraged other healthy measures which include prohibiting trans-fats in chain restaurants. He also wants food restaurants to show calorie counts on their menus.

Bloomberg campaigns for food companies all over the country to lessen the amount of salt in their food products. He also asks for the government to restrict people using food stamps from buying sugary drinks.

Meanwhile, residents of New York can only smoke on parking lots, sidewalks, streets, and within their homes. However, most landlords do not permit smoking inside their apartments.