August 14, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Wyckoff Smoking ban law denounced, praised and adopted by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee adopted an ordi- nance instituting smoke-free zones and some smok- ing areas in two new parks. The measure received the wholehearted support of four speakers -- one of whom is a smoker -- and the wholehearted opposition of 47-year resident Sue Winton. “I don’t see that the use of a parking lot solved the problem,” Winton said at last week’s Wyckoff Township Committee meeting. “I still see this as an abuse of your power over the people and I find that reprehensible.” Mayor Rudy Boonstra took some civil umbrage at the term “reprehensible” and the four members present adopted the ordinance to the approval of everyone else who spoke. Wyckoff Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney was absent. Wyckoff resident and smoker John Unglert supported the ordinance, as did resident Jim Savage and outside speakers Cindy Mearem and Al Ferrara, both of whom are members of tobacco control groups with countywide or statewide membership. Bergen and Passaic counties and 179 municipalities already have restrictions on smok- ing in parks and recreation areas. “It’s for the children more than anything else,” said Mearem. Mayor Boonstra noted that when he was a member of the Wyckoff Board of Education, he had smoked at board meetings. However, he said that he and the other trustee who smoked realized they were setting a bad example for the children, and introduced a resolution to ban smoking at the board meetings. Boonstra quit smoking 26 years ago. Winton had said at a previous meeting that she does not smoke and is personally offended by cigarette smoke, but that the air belongs to everyone. She said the Wyckoff Township Committee members were exceeding their authority by banning smoking except in parked cars in some parking lots. Wyckoff officials repeatedly said that people have the right not to be exposed to cigarette smoke at sports events and practices, and that eliminating the need to pick up cigarette butts and residue would save the taxpayers money. “Any secondhand smoke exposure is considered extremely dangerous,” said Ferrara. He said secondhand smoke has been found to be a carcinogen on the level with asbestos and benzene, and applauded Wyckoff for the restriction. “Thank you -- I’m all for it,” Savage said of the ordi- nance. The ordinance as adopted includes Russell Farms Community Park on Russell Avenue and Sicomac Avenue and the Larkin House Park on Godwin Avenue as smoke- free areas. Smoke-free areas already on the books include Wyckoff Community Park, Pulis Field, Memorial Field, and the Gardens of Wyckoff, all of which have either sports fields or walking paths. “It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke within the boundary of any of the parks, playgrounds, or rec- reational areas which are defined within Section 146-4 of this chapter. To the extent possible, ‘smoke-free area’ signs shall be clearly, sufficiently, and conspicuously posted at properties where smoking is prohibited by this chapter. The signs shall have the words ‘smoke-free area’ in lettering that is not less than two inches in height and shall contain the international no smoking sign. “Not withstanding the above, smoking shall not be pro- hibited within the parking lots of vehicular access lanes to such parks, playgrounds, and/or recreational areas unless prohibited by other applicable law.” Smoking within cars was permitted. However, if smokers discard the butts, they will be subject to littering regulations. Committeeman Brian Scanlan said he recently lost an uncle to cigar smoking. Scanlan joined Boonstra, Doug- las Christie, and Haakon Jepsen in the unanimous vote to adopt the ordinance. Police joining anti-DWI campaign The Wyckoff Police Department will be joining in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, according to Wyckoff Police Lieutenant Charles Van Dyke. The New Jersey Division of Highway Safety has pro- vided grants to local law enforcement agencies to sponsor the campaign, and local police will join the New Jersey State Police in looking for impaired drivers. Motorists who plan to go home after drinking are urged to appoint a designated driver in advance, take mass tran- sit, or call a sober friend. Alternatively, they may chose to spend the night at the site of the party. Those who have had too much to drink and are traveling on foot are urged to call a friend or a taxi. Sober drivers who see a drunken or aggressive driver may dial #77 to report that driver to the police. Drivers and passengers are also urged to buckle up, no matter what seat in the vehicle they take, or the state of their sobriety. In 2012, alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 19 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle deaths. “Recent surveys indicate that many people harbor the dangerous belief that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive,” said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the New Jersey Highway Safety Division. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger.”