Brown vetoes ban on smoking at California parks, beaches

Smoking and vaping will still be allowed at California state parks and beaches, despite lawmakers’ attempts to ban it.

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed two bills Friday that would have banned lighting up in a park or at the beach. In a veto message, he writes, “if people can’t smoke even on a deserted beach, where can they? There must be some limit to the coercive power of government.”

One bill would’ve imposed a $100 fine for people caught smoking tobacco, marijuana, or even electronic cigarettes.

Supporters hoped to mitigate the effects of nicotine and secondhand smoke while preventing litter from discarded cigarette butts. Brown has vetoed a similar bill before.

Last year, lawmakers raised the smoking age to 21 and voters approved a $2-per-pack increase in tobacco taxes.