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NJ State Parks Proposed ban on smoking


Harry Dolphin

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The NJ Legislature is proposing a ban on smoking in State Parks and Beaches. Actually, the legislature wants to ban smoking in all parks in New Jersey, but I doubt it has the authority to tell county parks and municipal parks that they must ban smoking in parks. Modern megalomaniacal society. Oh, well.

One of my principles of life is: "The Dolphin don't go where the Dolphin ain't wanted." So, I shall be archiving my caches in NJ State parks whilst I have the opportunity.

As a person who maintained a trail in Wawayanda Sate Park for ten years, I can tell you that cigarette butts are a very minimal percentage of the litter left on the trails. Beer bottles are the worst. Oh, wait... Drinking beer in a state park is illegal. ATVs? Oh, those are illegal too. Bicycles Only on specific trails. Doesn't seem to stop anyone... But, nope. Dolphin don't go when Dolphin ain't wanted. (I always get a laugh when I read an obituary that says: "He died crashing his ATV on a trail in the NWCDC." That is not permitted! And it is admitted in the obituary?!?

Obviously, State Parks do not, and cannot uphold their regulations. So pass new laws banning 20% of the population? Maybe they're the people who could use the exercise??? Nope. You're not welcomed here anymore.

So, I shall start archiving my caches in NJ State Parks, starting tomorrow.

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Sorry to hear this.

 

I'm not a smoker but I have a problem with the nanny state mentality that seems to permeate so much of modern society. It's a LEGAL substance that the U.S. and state governments make PLENTY of tax revenue off of. Sad that cigarettes will be followed by soda will be followed by trans fat... oh wait, that's already happening.

 

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to find your caches.

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Just outlaw smoking and be done with it. It is time to outlaw it 100%. There is clearly a difference between cigarettes and other "consumable" foods.

 

As I've said before. If anyone can state a GOOD and LOGICAL reason to allow cigarettes at all... by all means, tell it. I have yet to hear one.

 

I do laugh at the Nanny state idea though. I mean, as poor a decision it is to smoke, you kinda do need a nanny to forbid you do it since you can't make that decision on your own (general state of all smokers, nothing person to anyone here).

Edited by TheWeatherWarrior
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The Dolphin don't go where the Dolphin ain't wanted

 

That, of course, is not quite true. All people are welcome ... just certain habits/practices are not.

 

I'm assuming drinking is not allowed in most/all of the state parks. I like to drink beer and wine. But I would never make the statement that I'm not wanted because my beer and wine isn't allowed.

 

Having sex in the park is likely not allowed either. I also enjoy that, not surprisingly. But again, just because they won't allow me to do that in the park doesn't mean I'm not wanted.

 

I like to sing, and that probably is allowed. Though if park officials heard me, they likely would state I'm not wanted but probably couldn't kick me out. :)

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It's all a part of a Geocaching Organization's plan to completely control cache placements in the State Parks. Oh no he di'int go there. Just kidding, of course. :laughing: Hmm, I'm not so sure I was actually in a New York State Park last season, but I can tell you smoking is banned in all the County Parks in my County, and has been for at least a year. From what I've seen, there is no enforcement to speak of, and I live about 1/4 mile from one. Which I don't visit all that often, but drive by on a daily basis.

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Rather than waste their time with smokers, I'd like to see 'em place a ban on disposable water bottles and cans.

Last we were at Pinwheel Vista in Waywayanda, CJ emptied her pack into mine, just so she could fill hers with the crap strewn along the trail.

An (on the large side) day pack was filled almost at max, just on the way back to the car.

- Shame that much of this area is the AT, owned by the NPS who "banned" our caches, but don't have their own cleanup plans in place. We CITO. They apparently don't.

Edited by cerberus1
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The NJ Legislature is proposing a ban on smoking in State Parks and Beaches. Actually, the legislature wants to ban smoking in all parks in New Jersey, but I doubt it has the authority to tell county parks and municipal parks that they must ban smoking in parks. Modern megalomaniacal society. Oh, well.

One of my principles of life is: "The Dolphin don't go where the Dolphin ain't wanted." So, I shall be archiving my caches in NJ State parks whilst I have the opportunity.

As a person who maintained a trail in Wawayanda Sate Park for ten years, I can tell you that cigarette butts are a very minimal percentage of the litter left on the trails. Beer bottles are the worst. Oh, wait... Drinking beer in a state park is illegal. ATVs? Oh, those are illegal too. Bicycles Only on specific trails. Doesn't seem to stop anyone... But, nope. Dolphin don't go when Dolphin ain't wanted. (I always get a laugh when I read an obituary that says: "He died crashing his ATV on a trail in the NWCDC." That is not permitted! And it is admitted in the obituary?!?

Obviously, State Parks do not, and cannot uphold their regulations. So pass new laws banning 20% of the population? Maybe they're the people who could use the exercise??? Nope. You're not welcomed here anymore.

So, I shall start archiving my caches in NJ State Parks, starting tomorrow.

 

On Saturday I was lugging toilets, roofing material, bottles of every description, children's toys and you name it out of the woods in Byrne in concert with 40 other SJG volunteers.This was not a CITO. We showed up to demonstrate that we are committed to our public lands here in Jersey, lands where the state has imposed a months long moratorium on placing new caches. While we were working a group of 7 ATVs roared up and had to stop as we were in the "road" I would not let them pass so eventually they headed down another sand "road" The state workers just stood and watched. Harry, if they won't stop those illegal, habitat churning idiots then I doubt they are going to come after your smoking materials.

 

As for archiving your caches, chances are you'll have to get a permit for them, if you still have them, soon enough.

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First they ban smoking indoors. OK, I can see that. Now they ban it outdoors? Why the incrementalism? Just outlaw smoking outright and get it over with and continue the march towards totalitarian nannyism.

 

Sheesh, I can no longer spark up my pipe while flyfishing in a stream in a state park, or enjoy cigar in my boat on while fishing on a lake or sitting around a campfire. Time to take my fishing, camping and my money to other states.

Edited by briansnat
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The NJ Legislature is proposing a ban on smoking in State Parks and Beaches. Actually, the legislature wants to ban smoking in all parks in New Jersey, but I doubt it has the authority to tell county parks and municipal parks that they must ban smoking in parks. Modern megalomaniacal society. Oh, well.

One of my principles of life is: "The Dolphin don't go where the Dolphin ain't wanted." So, I shall be archiving my caches in NJ State parks whilst I have the opportunity.

As a person who maintained a trail in Wawayanda Sate Park for ten years, I can tell you that cigarette butts are a very minimal percentage of the litter left on the trails. Beer bottles are the worst. Oh, wait... Drinking beer in a state park is illegal. ATVs? Oh, those are illegal too. Bicycles Only on specific trails. Doesn't seem to stop anyone... But, nope. Dolphin don't go when Dolphin ain't wanted. (I always get a laugh when I read an obituary that says: "He died crashing his ATV on a trail in the NWCDC." That is not permitted! And it is admitted in the obituary?!?

Obviously, State Parks do not, and cannot uphold their regulations. So pass new laws banning 20% of the population? Maybe they're the people who could use the exercise??? Nope. You're not welcomed here anymore.

So, I shall start archiving my caches in NJ State Parks, starting tomorrow.

 

Very sad about this.

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