Aaron Leung is not exactly smokin’ mad, but he is frustrated that so many businesses in Richmond are not enforcing the nine-metre no-smoking restrictions outside the doors and windows of their operations.
In fact, the Richmondite has taken matters into his own hands, and last Wednesday spent the morning distributing dozens of nine-meter smoking stickers after seeing the wrong signs posted on shop doors and windows.
In 2018, the city changed the bylaw requirement from a six-metre to a nine-metre buffer.
"After three years of the implementation of the nine-meter no-smoking bylaw, there is still some confusion around since a few local businesses are still putting up the wrong sign," said Leung.
"Instead of criticizing the city, I just want to disseminate the right information to benefit the health of the general public."
The Richmond News earlier reported that the city increased the no-smoking buffer from six meters to nine in some public areas in 2018, which means the smoking of tobacco, vaping products, e-cigarettes and cannabis within nine meters (30 feet) of doorways, windows and air intakes is prohibited.
According to the City's Public Health Protection Bylaw, a smoker who refuses to comply with the bylaw can be fined up to $1,000. A person or business that refuses to comply with the signage requirements can be fined up to $10,000.
"Some merchants we talked to were just unaware of the changed bylaw and corrected their signage right away after reading the updated info on the city's website," said Leung.
"The enforcement part has kind of been forgotten in the grey zone for many years," said Au
Richmond city councillor Chak Au, who accompanied Leung as he handed out the correct signs on Wednesday, told the News more education and community outreach work needs to be done.
But Au noted that until recently the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) had been responsible for enforcing the nine-meter requirement; the city just took over the job this year.
"Therefore, the enforcement part has kind of been forgotten in the grey area for many years," said Au.
Merchants are responsible for ensuring their signs are current: city spokesperson
City spokesperson Clay Adams explained that the agreement for smoking enforcement dates back to 1996 when it was the responsibility of what was then the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board. The board was folded into what became the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH) in 2001, which took over the agreement.
However, just last March, VCH terminated its agreement regarding smoking bylaw enforcement with the city, saying it was a non-core service. Since then, city staff has been transitioning into the area, which has required some shifts in learning and focus.
Regardless, Adams said that since the new regulation was introduced three years ago, city staff have educated and encouraged businesses to update their signs through initiatives ranging from social media and ad campaigns, to face-to-face visits with merchants.
However, sometimes it can be challenging to replace every sign. Besides, it is the merchant’s responsibility to ensure their sign is current, added Adams.
"It is also the smoker who is responsible for complying with the distance requirements. We find most are respectful of others and compliant, although there will always be a few who do not feel the need to do so," said Adams.
