Smoking Regulations, Tobacco Prevention Programs

Introduction
Washington State Regulations
Local Government Policies, Regulations, and Recommendations
Smoke-Free Parks
Smoking in Motor Vehicles When Children Present
Prevention Programs and Information Resources

Introduction

According to the Washington State Department of Health, tobacco remains the main cause of preventable disease and death in Washington state.

This page provides links to Washington state regulations relating to tobacco and provides examples of local regulations, policies, and recommendations. Information is also provided on smoke free initiatives, such as smoke free zones and smoking in cars when children are present. Though bills have been introduced, there is no legislative authority for regulating smoking in cars when children are present in Washington state.

Washington State Regulations

Ch 70.160 RCW - Smoking in Public Places (Formerly the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act) - Prohibits smoking in public places except in areas designated as smoking areas; amended by Initiative 901 ()
RCW 26.28.080 - Prohibits selling or giving tobacco products to juveniles
RCW 28A.210.310 - Prohibits use of tobacco products on school property
Ch. 70.155 RCW - Regulates sale of tobacco products to minors and access of minors to those products

Local Government Policies, Regulations, and Recommendations

Clark County
- Clark County Public Health Smoking in Public Places Law and Electronic Cigarettes - Prohibits sale of E-cigarettes to minors
- Clark County Public Health Smoke-Free Housing - Public Health supports policies that protect people from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing. Page provides recommendations
- Smoke-Free Campus White Paper: Clark County Center for Community Health & Vancouver Veterans Administration (), 05/2007 - The center houses the American Legion, Clark County Department of Community Services, Clark County Public Health Department, Clark County Veteran's Assistance Program, Community Services Northwest, Consumer Voices Are Born (CVAB), Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health & Human Services, Hotel Hope, Lifeline Connections, the Mental Health Ombudsman, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs
Lacey Ordinance No. 1255 () - Adopts provisions of Initiative 901, passed 12/2005
Mason County Code Ch. 2.104 - Smoking Policies - All Mason County property is designated smoke-free, including parks and fairgrounds
- Mason County Tobacco-Free Policies News Release (), 01/13/2006
Seattle King County Public Health
- King County Board of Health Resolution No. 10-07 () - Encourages King County county and city councils, homeowners' association and condominium association boards, housing authorities, owners, developers and managers of nonprofit and for-profit publicly funded multifamily properties and owners, managers and developers of privately funded nonprofit and for-profit multi-family properties within King County to adopt no-smoking policies for the safety and welfare of all citizens and residents of King County, passed 09/16/2010
- Tobacco Prevention Program
- New Law Snuffs Out Smoking at Metro Bus Shelters - News from King County Department of Transportation, release date: February 27, 2006
Seattle Public Schools Tobacco-Free Environment, Policy No. 4215, 09/07/2011 - Prohibits the use of all tobacco products in or on Seattle School District property, on school-sponsored transportation, and at school district-sponsored events
Tacoma Pierce County Board of Health
- Environmental Health Code Ch. 8 () - Smoking in Public Places
- Tobacco Prevention and Control
Whatcom County Department of Health Smoke-Free Washington Law

Smoke Free Parks

Seattle King County Public Health Tobacco Free Parks Policy Implementation Guide (), 06/2011 - Includes model policy, list of Washington jurisdictions that have adopted policies, and sample provisions
Trust for Public Land City Parks Blog Smoking Bans In Public Parks, by John Crotty, posted 07/08/2011
Vancouver, B.C. Canada No-Smoking Policy for Vancouver Parks and Beaches, Memo from General Manager, Parks and Recreation to Vancouver Park Board, 04/08/2010

Washington Provisions

See also list of Washington jurisdictions with smoke free park policies in King County Tobacco Free Parks Policy Implementation Guide (), 06/2011

Battle Ground Ordinance No. 07-014 () - Smoking in Parks, passed 06/2007
Burien Park and Recreation Policy and Procedures Policy 3000.300.10 () - Tobacco Free Parks, 11/17/2011
Gig Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 9.24.010 - Smoking within City Parks Prohibited
Lake Stevens Municipal Code Sec. 10.03.155 - Smoking and Tobacco Use Prohibited
Mason County Code Sec. 9.44.041 - Smoking in County Parks or Fairgrounds (Scroll down to Sec.)
Olympia Resolution No. 1508 () - Posting Signs Banning Smoking from Children's Play Areas
Puyallup Municipal Code Sec. 9.20.195 - Lighted Material in City Park Property Prohibited
Seattle
- Seattle Parks and Recreation News Release (), 02/18/2010 - Seattle Park Superintendent Relaxes Rule on Smoking in Parks
- Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Rule/Policy Number: P 060 7.21.00, Code of Conduct (), effective 04/01/2010, Sec. 3.2.10 - Smoking, chewing, or other tobacco use within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches, or playgrounds
Spokane Parks and Recreation Board Policy Tobacco Free Park Zones in Park and Recreation Areas and/or Other Facilities (), 09/2010
Tacoma
- Tacoma Ordinance No. 27841 () - Amendment to the municipal park code by prohibiting smoking in all city parks, passed 10/20/2009
- Tacoma Resolution No. 35519 () - Posting Signs in Parks to Refrain from Smoking, passed 05/21/2002
Vancouver-Clark County
- Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation City Park Code Update - Adds new provision: No person shall smoke or use any form of tobacco in any park (Sec. 15.04.130 Tobacco products)
- Vancouver Resolution No. M-3510 () - Outdoors Facilities Voluntary Tobacco Free Policy, passed, 09/2005 - Includes policy statement and procedures
- Vancouver Resolution No. M-3519 () - Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation's Community Center Campus Tobacco Free Policy, passed 11/2005 - Includes policy statement and procedures

Smoking in Motor Vehicles When Children Present

A number of states, and Canadian provinces, are considering or have passed legislation relating to smoking in vehicles when children are present.

Smoke-Free Homes, Cars, and Parks, Washington State Department of Health, Smoke Free Washington
Secondhand Smoke in Cars May Lead to Dangerous Levels of Contaminants For Children, Harvard School of Public Health Press Release, 10/05/2006
- Measuring Air Quality to Protect Children from Secondhand Smoke in Cars (), by Vaughan W. Rees, PhD, Gregory N. Connolly, DMD, MPH, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, November 2006
Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles, by James J. Fazzalaro, Principal Analyst, Connecticut General Assembly (OLR), Report 2006-R-0727, November 30, 2006
Bans on Smoking in Vehicles Carrying Children, by Kevin McCarthy, Connecticut Office of Legislative Research (OLR), Report No. 2008-R-0133, February 15, 2008
British Columbia, Canada, Legislative Library of British Columbia Smoking in Cars with Children (), prepared by Emily Yearwood-Lee, Background Brief 2008: 01 / April 2008 - Summary of laws and proposals in U.S. and Canada

Prevention Programs and Information Resources

Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Washington State Department of Health
Smoke Free Washington, Washington State Department of Health
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General - Includes report and links to other resources
Smoking and Tobacco Use, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Tobacco Prevention and Control, National Association of County and City Health Officials, Programs & Activities / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Organizations
- American Lung Association
- Americans for Non-Smoker's Rights
- Tobacco Prevention and Control Partners, National Association of County and City Health Officials