BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Bradford County Commissioners deferred a resolution encouraging people to avoid smoking in public places but will instead consider a ban on smoking in public parks.
Bradford County SWAT members and supporters attended, including student Casey Schaefer, who encouraged the board to adopt an ordinance establishing tobacco-free parks.
“An ordinance for tobacco-free parks will help with secondhand smoke, smoke exposure, youth initiation, the abundance of tobacco litter and will set an example that we want to protect our children and youth from the negative impacts of tobacco and nicotine use,” she said.
The resolution on the agenda, however, was a suggestion, not an enforceable law, she said.
Commissioner Danny Riddick agreed, saying he wanted an ordinance to prevent smoking in parks and ballparks, and Commissioner Chris Dougherty agreed if they were talking about parks and no other public spaces, such as parking lots. The resolution before them more generally encouraged a smoke-free outdoors.
The commission deferred passing the resolution and requested an ordinance be brought back for consideration to ban smoking and vaping in public parks. If passed, a violation of that ordinance would be a second-degree misdemeanor.
School district takes on vaping
The prevalence of vaping among students came up as part of a larger discussion on discipline and restroom monitoring at the middle and high schools at the school board’s workshop retreat on Monday. Citations are issued to students found in possession of a vape, and numerous or unresolved citations can lead to bigger repercussions for students and parents.
The citation comes with a $30 fine and a required online tobacco education course. But, if a group of students is caught, only the student in possession is eligible for the citation.
Students are resourceful at hiding vapes in the bathrooms, according to School Board Member Candace Osteen, who is also a tobacco prevention specialist.
Vape monitors have been ordered for restroom installation, with cages discussed to protect them from vandalism — another restroom issue. Vandalizing one of these expensive monitors would be a felony offense.
Students also receive a referral when caught, but Osteen said they would like to move away from that in recognition that these students are addicted, and if they are sent home, they wind up using more.
Smoking or vaping are generally handled differently than if a student is found in possession of a dab pen used for marijuana use. Students with drugs end up in alternative education. But if a student is caught with a vape three times in 12 weeks, that will get them placed in alternative education as well.
Osteen said they have made progress with the citation process. Ignoring a citation’s requirements results in court dates in front of County Judge Tatum Davis and places drivers’ licenses in jeopardy. Parents’ licenses may also be in danger if the process isn’t taken seriously.
Before it gets that far, Osteen said they want to adopt a supportive approach and help student struggling with nicotine addiction get cessation resources. She said Bradford County has been picked to pilot a youth smoking/vaping cessation course in partnership with Suwannee River AHEC.
