SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Gray Davis recently signed bill number AB 188 into law which will ban smoking at public playgrounds. The bill, introduced by Assembly Member Juan Vargas of San Diego, prohibits the smoking of any cigarette, cigar, or other tobacco-related product within a playground or tot lot sandbox area.

In addition to the ban on smoking, the bill prohibits any person from disposing of any cigarette, cigarette butts, cigar butts or other tobacco-related waste within a play area. Violation of this bill will result in a $100 fine. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2002.