No Smoking on Wrightsville beach? Police state?

I'll be living in WB next year, and all these policies sound just like any town from South Jersey. Soon enough you'll have to have front and back bike lights and wear a helmet if your 17 and under (you have to do that in my hometown!). People are going to freak in WB in the near future

 

oh wahhhhh.... just move instead of complaining...you *****ing does nothing

 

C'mon people...

OK here is the deal, smoking is a choice that YOU make. I read these posts and people try to get on their high horse... first, everyone agrees that smoking is bad for your health right? People that do not smoke DO NOT WANT TO INHALE YOURS!!! It is not like banning alcohol, books, and the other garbage y'all have been saying. For example, if you partake in a frosty beverage (aka beer), it does not effect the health of the people around you.If you smoke on the beach, many many people may be inhaling your 2nd hand smoke. See the difference?

Also, the folks yelling about their rights being stripped away that don't even smoke --- wake up! Your rights are being protected so that you can enjoy a safe, HEALTHY, public place. Do you know the health effects of 2nd hand even 3rd hand smoke on a small child? The child doesn't have to be in a confined area, inhaling it anywhere can have dangerous health effects for some. It is not their choice to inhale the smoke, so why should they (or anyone else) have to suffer?

Any action that someone takes that directly effects the health and well being of another individual without their consent should not be allowed. Plain and simple. I support banning smoking at WB and ALL public places 110%. Sorry.

 

the NRA won't let that happen. they run deep with our lawmakers.

 

creating legislation to fine litterbugs would be a better deterrent and would preserve freedom to enjoy the beach. banning smoking is misplaced if you ask me.

 

if you don't fight for your rights, or at least speak up, they will disappear.

 

I stand by my statement that the WB Board of Aldermen is now more represented by transplants (most from PA, NJ and NY) than true locals, and some don't even live on WB full time. This, past and future asinine laws are a direct result of these folks gaining power and what they see as a legislative blank canvas for them to enforce their will.

It's like the disease that follows the encroachment of invasive species. Sad.

@ right_coaster, your argument is no better than any other straw man perpetrated by every other overly self-righteous person with their pet crusade.

I invite you to attempt to defend your claim that someone drinking BEER does not present the potential to endanger the health of another individual. Please define and expound upon what a "healthy" public place is and the government's role in regulating it. Define "suffer." And, finally, please explain this completely nebulous statement by offering other examples to support your argument and define proper depth and breath of claimed responsibility in the means through which it is applied and enforced (I fixed your grammar too): "Any action that someone takes that directly *affects the health and well being of another individual without their consent should not be allowed."

-This should be entertaining-

 

About...i don't know maybe ten years ago? My hometown (in south jersey) was a regular old town with a laid back atmosphere. No tickets for no bike lights, riding someone on your handle bars, ect. Bars had regular priced drinks, people had fun, houses where normal beach houses at normal cost (relative to the area), surfing was in, old school shops lined the main drag, and a healthy amount of happy locals that loved where they lived.

Fast forward to now - The streets are filled with Main liners and New Yorkers that think they are the bee's knees, multimillion dollar houses (some even 8 or 9 million!!!!), remodeling of roads where bikers have to ride in a designated area, brand new police station and a couple more dozen cops on duty, off the wall beer prices at bars ($6.75!!!), 14 year old beach tagers calling the lifeguards on you for going surfing without a beach tag, getting called out of the water for not having a beach tag and getting a ticket, bmw's and mercedes everywhere, no ball playing near or in the ocean, smaller surfing beaches, not being able to paddle out next to the lifeguards when there is a current, less and more unhappy locals, no more floatilla due to injury scare, no more water guns or water ballons at the 4th of july boat parade, cops questioning you whether the bike your riding is stolen or not, pre-teen brats with their daddy's money, increased noise and drinking violations given out....I can go on forever. Every year the summer gets more and more....regulated, which means less and less fun. The town isn't even the same town any more - and it will start to happen everywhere. not just beach towns. Overregulation and loser board executives are ruining all thats good about each town. Our old Police chief was the man. Nice guy, a local, liked to have fun, just made sure everyone was safe and didn't punish unfairly...like it should be! the new police chief acts like my town is Camden, and i literally live in the safest town i can possible think of.

Coming soon to Wrightsville Beach....

 

[/QUOTE]I invite you to attempt to defend your claim that someone drinking BEER does not present the potential to endanger the health of another individual. Please define and expound upon what a "healthy" public place is and the government's role in regulating it. Define "suffer." And, finally, please explain this completely nebulous statement by offering other examples to support your argument and define proper depth and breath of claimed responsibility in the means through which it is applied and enforced (I fixed your grammar too): "Any action that someone takes that directly *affects the health and well being of another individual without their consent should not be allowed."

-This should be entertaining-[/QUOTE]

One note on this point
I have asthma - secondhand smoke triggers my asthma and therefore directly inhibits my ability to breathe
Which is a more basic right in your mind - the ability to smoke where desired or the ability to breathe ?

I don't care if someone else damages themselves but I really do like to be able to breathe

 

Yeah. There's a lot of speculation about a lot of things...

 

WB is the nearest beach access for UNCW crowds and can be a bit of a zoo. Bans and regulations often have more traction with residents of such areas. That's not necessarily a sign that the whole coast is turning into a police state. My two cents.

 

I beg to differ. UNCW students, such as myself, will continue to go to WB instead of CB, kure, ect. because it's the closest. Simple as that. These bans and regulations will only really hurt the families that vacation in WB for a week or two or the locals themselves. The locals in WB rock, by the way. I love when i'm walking up the beach from drifting and I see a few neighbors all sitting around drinking wine out of wine glasses and always say hi with a smile. Of course there are some old grump men or 30's surfer burn-outs, but the locals in general are more friendly that a lot of the places i've been in.
They don't really complain, but if you keep pushing more and more regulations they will start to get fed up and take their anger out in other ways...

Maybe the whole coast isn't turning into what my town is like, but you can bet your ass there will be more and more regulations and laws in every town annually.

People are getting fed up with this BS

 

HeadHigh, Check this out. It's a funny rant about our rights at "the beach." Take care all, surf as much as possible.

http://youtu.be/yb0iHakZTdo

 

My point is that places with certain demographics tend to be more regulated. Friendly people who enjoy a glass of wine on the beach are unfortunate casualties of the bans, not the reason for them. This is all too common. As someone who doesn't spend that much time in WB I'm only saying that as an observer...

 

Its also not wise to throw a burning cig butt into the dunes in the middle of summer. I refuse people all the time. I think I can go without the 25 cent tip on their $50 bill for their Blue "redneck" motorcyle drinks. It could 4pm and people are hammered, disrepectful and dangerous. The people who usually throw cigs on the beach are the same people who are bringing their bottle of Evan Williams to my bar and ordering a coke so they can mix their own drink. They get the boot right away, along with the guys who bring Milwaukees Best Ice out on the pier in a cooler and think its right to drink them at our establishment.

 

really? Maybe you should read it again and let it simmer a while. I'm not going to defend anything I said to you. You sure try hard to sound intelligent in your posts, therefore I find it quite surprising that you can't grasp any aspect of what I'm saying.

 

I can read "See Spot Run" a thousand times and it will still be the same story. But, hey, thanks for pointing out to everyone here that you don't really have anything to support your half-baked argument. Your deflection was the icing on the cake...

 

What do you mean coming???? It's already here....Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach during the season is $10 a day to park at a public beach access.

 

Is this "Tiki Bar" a private club? While the majority of us share your sentiments concerning the "non tippers", sounds like you are running a tighter ship than warranted. It would be a pity for you to get tossed from your own half-pier. People bringing their own alcohol to bars is a time honored tradition and will continue, even under your unwavering gaze.

 

I don't smoke so I do not care...and plus it's b.a.d. bad for you