Smokers BEWARE!

EvilGentleman: 8th Apr 2006 - 22:04 GMT

Wow, Toronto cops are so nice. Montreal cops will try to confiscate cameras sometimes, unless you specifically ask for and receive permission to photograph them. And the Quebec Provincial Police (Surete du Quebec) are infamous for beating TV news crews, etc...

Elicar: 8th Apr 2006 - 22:46 GMT

It's the zoom, EvilG. I was not anywhere near them.

Actually, the female officer saw me at the platform, but there's dozens of people in between us.

ian: 9th Apr 2006 - 01:30 GMT

Smoking is disgusting. And alcohol. Drugs. Etc. Keep it out of my life, please.

Stevo: 9th Apr 2006 - 01:51 GMT

wow will this provoke the next courier vs. suv type dicussion?

gee...all those people were taking public transit. I have to wonder
how many of the people who drafted some of the draconian smoking regulations ride the bus. I bet most of 'em drive around in smoke-belching personal cocoons.
I miss being able to smoke in stressful places, like supermarket lineups, airports, and...well, at work.

drea: 9th Apr 2006 - 04:36 GMT

Good street photography. I wonder how they're gonna make sure people pay for the ticket. It's not like car tickets cuz you can take down the license plate. Do people take your driver's license number or something?

Brad: 9th Apr 2006 - 05:14 GMT

Ha! I like the second picture, the guy getting the ticket still has the evidence in his right hand. I don't smoke, but I think ticketing people for smoking OUTSIDE is a just a little absurd.

Guy McLaren: 9th Apr 2006 - 06:21 GMT

me I dont smoke, but I drink, the residue of my beer is urine, How would you feel if I pissed all over you? I came back from a public place yesterday and the stench in my clothes was overbearing.

chiamattt: 9th Apr 2006 - 06:39 GMT

www.macleans.ca/switchboard/columnists/article.jsp?content=20050718_109113_109113

What the provinces conveniently ignore is the fact that Canada began extracting billions from the tobacco industry long before the U.S. did. While the Americans relied on slow and costly litigation, Canada opted for a more elegant approach: punitive taxation. According to a 2002 study, almost 72 per cent of the cost of a carton of cigarettes in Canada goes to various taxes. In the U.S., the tax portion ranged between 17 and 38 per cent, depending on the state. Most Canadians support these taxes because of the habit's obvious social costs. But by pouring litigation on top of taxation, governments are demanding the industry and its consumers pay twice for their freedom to puff.

This naked money grab is justified by one central myth: that the industry gets a free ride on public health care. The facts say otherwise. A 2000 study estimated that Canada's direct health care costs due to tobacco are about $2.68 billion a year. A similar 1991 federal government study reached roughly the same conclusion. By comparison, the federal and provincial governments reaped about $7.69 billion in tobacco taxes last year, up 57 per cent from a decade earlier. Some free ride. If anything, smokers help subsidize health care for the rest of us.

Elicar: 10th Apr 2006 - 00:52 GMT

That's a little bit extreme, Guy, don't you think? Isn't freedom all about choices? If smokers choose to self-destruct, let them be. They are harming only themselves and those who choose to stay around and inhale their second hand smoke.

Here in Toronto, there's practically no enclosed public place where you can smoke except for some bars that have a separate space. (I believe that's also disappearing.) So, non-smokers reeking of cigarette smoke is highly unlikely here.

Drinkers on the other hand, are more harmful to others, especially when they are driving. (And I have seen drunks urinating in some places other than the bathroom!)

We can pontificate all we want about the harmful effects of smoking. But ticketing a smoker OUTSIDE is, as Brad said, absurd. I'd prefer that the police would catch the real criminals, not one who was consuming a legal substance!

Carltan: 10th Apr 2006 - 03:42 GMT

well...i think that hmmmm i think that it should be illegal but u know...it cant really be done (all the money our GOV makes from it) trials and tribulations here in toronto

S: 11th Apr 2006 - 02:35 GMT

I think Drea makes a good point. Unless these smokers were stupid enough to provide ID with their name and home address, what's stopping these people from giving a false name?. That's like issuing a ticket to a kid for not wearing a bicycle helmet. Fat chance that ticket would ever be paid.

I can't believe we actually have cops chasing after smokers. What a waste of tax dollars. I realize that these people were smoking in a non-smoking area, but it's still insane. Couldn't the TTC have one of their employees order the "smokers" out of the building rather than pay a cop?. Shouldn't they be chasing after motorists who let their cars idle for more than 3 minutes?. What happened with that?.

Peter: 11th Apr 2006 - 16:33 GMT

while at criminal court this past weekend, i saw a man arraigned for selling a pack of cigarettes (well, part of a pack... it only contained 3 cigarettes, according to the docket) to a plainclothes officer. he got a stiffer sentence than the guy caught with heroin.

theres something wrong with that.

i also saw a number of folks come through the court for smoking related incidents, mostly on subway platforms, etc...

Elicar: 12th Apr 2006 - 02:15 GMT

UPDATE: While I was talking to one of the police officers in O Canada, on Stolen Native Land, I was told that the a smoking regulation violator could not renew his/her driver's license without paying the fine. So, if you get caught and they ask for your driver's license, tell them that you do not drive.

I was also told the the area is a TTC property, therefore, it was the TTC who called in the police officers. As the police officer had put it, "I may not like it, but I have to enforce the law!"

cynic: 25th Apr 2006 - 02:12 GMT

Fined for smoking outside is a bit bent, even if it is TTC property. People smoke, inside or outside, because there are addicts: an addiction, like gambling, that the gov't has encouraged one way or another because it is paydirt as a revenue stream.

I do, however, want fines for smokers who don't get, or care, that butts are litter. What's with that? What's with Tim's cups everywhere? Was I in Boy Scouts too long, or is it really possible to toss trash without remorse?

cherrybomb: 5th Jun 2006 - 07:04 GMT

I'm biased cuz I'm not a smoker. However, it really doesn't make a difference if people smoke outside or inside -- being a non-smoker, I can smell the smoke regardless. And yes, it does bother me. Many smokers don't think it's a big deal but ask any non-smoker and you will hear differently. But is the smoking ban going too far? Well, if we can equate smoking to say, constantly jabbing someone's forehead with your index finger... both are annoying and can bother people... non-smokers may inconvenience smokers, but smokers, you would be the ones doing the jabbing. =(

so I say, congratulations and yay for the ban.

anon (d235-137-7.home1.cgocable.net): 6th Jul 2006 - 00:49 GMT

I am one of those so called annoying smokers, I try hard to keep my smoking to myself. I don't smoke in my house or car because I have children but it's ketting pretty bad when I'm being told not to smoke out side as well.
I thought we were living in Canada not Russia.

benji: 6th Jul 2006 - 01:35 GMT

i think cherrybomb makes some good point about smokers not realising the annoyance of second hand smoke. As for talking about all the taxes that come from smoking... good, hey if it upset you too much you'd stop supporting the taxes by not smoking...And saying non-smokers have a "choice" of whether they're near you? wtf? does that leave someone's only choice to stay home where's there's no smoke?

Rick: 7th Oct 2006 - 01:14 GMT

its October and the smoking ban in Ontario has fallen apon us and we still smoke. I am a smoker or should I say I was a smoker, I had the loss of my Mother from lung cancer to finaly wake me up. I t is a hard thing to quit but one has to wonder can the province police it, and if ti does , where will the money come from?

Biff: 7th Oct 2006 - 06:25 GMT

This is Kafkaesque(sp)... I'm a joker and a smoker and a midnight toker. Biff has left the building!

Toronto's Finest at work!: 14th Nov 2006 - 08:57 GMT

Congradulations that area specifically where the photos have been taken scarb town center subway station is notorious for smokers smoking clearly with that no smoking sign infront of them. And second of all yes it is a tax grab but secondly i could guarantee you that 9/10 non smokers (not a smoker who quit) have a problem with people smoking in public places specifically the subway. Take it from me. non smokers percieve it as just plain fu*ing inconsiderate. I personally wished every time someon smoke at that station while goign to school that some ttc special constable or toronto police officer could be there to issue them a citation. and by the way for the guy who said why dont you give them a fake name. Well that guy is clearly an idiot bcause it's Ilegal not to have any ID on u goof. most peopel do not know that but your suppose to have ID on you when you come outside your house and yes even if your not doing anything if they suspect anythign they could easily ask you to show some ID and yes they will find out if its really your ID incase some smart ass comes up with that alternative to show false ID also being another criminal offence. BTw police need to inforce because probobly somebody complained about smokers in the station and popele who go to the mall all have to breath that shit. As for the other guy who claimed we can leave if it bothers us. The onus is on you to smoke somewhere else and move not for the other 25 peopel who are line to wait for the bus. The Cops shoulda hit em with one of their collapsable batans just to make the msg clear to those damn smokers. BTW YES I HATE YOU SMOKERS WHO SMOKE ON TAHT EXACT SPOT im assuming the guy who took the pic is soo sympathetic because he's also a smoker. OHh you the police have a ob to do to serve and protect the public as they say. protecting us from ur dirty toxic smoke is one of them. By the way the police have to issue citations because they have a quota they have to meet and alsofor premotional reasons along iwth creatign money for the city to pay the police. unless you would want higher taxes etc. yes the police gather a great deal of money from different fines which mainly go to the city.

Brad : 12th Mar 2007 - 18:47 GMT

Well as a non smoker i am happy they are doing their job. Just imagine your 80 year old granmother walking through all that smoke so she can get the TTC. Not to fair is it?
GOOD JOB TORONTO POLICE SERVICE