Enforcement of Bylaws?

Monday, January 23, 2006 03:35 AM

by Jack deWit

It seems that in Prince George our Council members go to great lengths to create bylaws to hopefully improve the living conditions of its citizens. However, without proper enforcement these bylaws are not worth the paper on which they are printed.

At the recent Nickelback performance, it appeared that smoking of cigarettes, and of course the wacky type of tobacco, was allowed to go on without much resistance from security officials. I have had numerous calls from people who attended the concert whom had to go home and wash their stinky clothes and medicate their sore throats. They all claim it was not the pyrotechnics that was the cause, but rather the second hand smoke of marijuana and cigarettes and who knows what else.

A representative of the CN Center explained to me that Regional Security is responsible for patrolling and enforcing bylaws at these functions. If that is the case then perhaps if this security company cannot at least enforce the clean air bylaw, the city should be looking for another security firm?

The anti-smoking bylaw # 4708 and in particular bylaw # 6531 which explicitly bans smoking in a place of public assembly were passed by the city of Prince George to provide smoke free air in public buildings.

If we are simply to ignore the smoking regulations at these concerts because there is not enough security staff to enforce the bylaw, why even have the bylaw?

I think it is time for our city leaders to come clean and provide equal rights for all the patrons who use city facilities. Enforce the anti-smoking bylaw under all circumstance. If the excuse by Regional Security is that the number of infractions is out of control, perhaps we should disallow the CN Place for concerts. Why should our taxpayers’ dollars be wasted on the cleaning up of cigarette butts and other trash coming from illegal smoking? It is time that our younger generation respect not only the bylaws of their community, but also the rights of others; in this case clean air to inhale.

I think the management of CN Place owes an apology to those non-smokers who were inexcusably subjected to the second hand smoke at the Nickelback concert.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 03:35 AM in Views by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: ammonra on January 23 2006 8:19 AM

In practice, it has been a long term policy of the City to enforce bylaws only when people make a complaint. Phone the Bylaw enforcement officer at City Hall and shout at them. Maybe then something will be done.

Posted by: diplomat on January 23 2006 9:00 AM

I have an allergy that causes me extreme breathing difficulties when exposed to smoke.

I would have had to leave the premises immediately, but I definitely would have asked for a refund of my money.

If enough people would do that enforcement would take place on the spot.

Guaranteed.

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on January 23 2006 9:45 AM

The city has told Regional security to not Enforce the bylaw,IN THE Dressing Rooms the people can do what they want.The SALE of booze is not controled so people GET VERY DRUNK. But the City makes money. Set up crews are allowed to smoke,its not legal but the city says not to enforce it. IT IS NOT Regional. IT IS CN MANAGEMENT

Posted by: Palopu on January 23 2006 6:33 PM

The Taxpayers of this City are already paying a net loss per year of $300,000.00 or more for the CN Centre, if we discontinued Concerts, then we may as well close it down, as the City doesnt make enough money off of the Cougers to pay wages to maintenace people.

On any given day and especially on the week-ends you can go to practically any school yard and you will observe people walking their dogs and allowing them to dump where ever they please. No effort is made to pick up the ***. You will find the same thing going on in any number of back alleys you care to check. These people have no concern about their dogs dumping in a school yard. Do you think that a bylaw enforcement officer could make an effort to stop this. I have yet to see anyone take any action. I would suggest that our School Principals and Teachers should be raising hell with the City about this
A walk through the school yards should give the enforcement officers all the evidence they need to do some patrolling and make some charges. All they would have to do was check their boots.

Posted by: Percy on January 23 2006 10:18 PM

Why is it that some laws, bylaws or rules can be ignored?

Just because there are a high number of offenders? I would like to suggest that the organizers responsible for these events call out the troops, shut off the power and have everyone butt out, or the show doesn't go on. Period.

Dam it, we have rules and laws that must be enforced, or trash the whole idea of laws and let the public decide how they want to behave.

What a pathetic society we live in. Can't we even call those with the authority to enforce the laws we have?

It's not about smoking or not smoking, drinking or not drinking. It's about enforcing the laws we have. They are there for a reason and we have elected people to draft laws to protect our citizens. So, enforce them. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on January 24 2006 7:35 AM

Percy, right on!

In the Hart there are daily occurrences of snowmobiles and ATVs roaring down the middle of Highland Drive and Kelly Road, dogs that bark relentlessly 12 to 14 hours a day/night, people who walk their (large) dogs without a leash, dog droppings are never picked up and bicycle riders hardly wear helmets anymore at all.

It used to be that one in ten didn't wear a helmet, now it is one in ten who bothers to wear one.

It is a shame that kids are allowed by their parents to ride their bikes disobeying the all rules!

Oh, stop signs are not for stopping but for simply rolling through at a slightly reduced speed!

What are the kids strapped into the backseat learning from that???

Obviously, all the good intentions are there when lawmakers pass new laws for everything - but without enforcement the whole thing is just a farce.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on January 24 2006 12:16 PM

Obviously none of you were at the show. I was & saw no issue at all with smoking. That aside, noone in their right mind would expect security to wade through the crush on the floor just to tell someone to put out a smoke (by the time they got there the smoke would be done anyhow). As to the expense of clean up I'm pretty sure the butts get swept up with the cups & other crap. And no, I don't smoke.

Posted by: SpeakingOut on January 27 2006 2:32 PM

The next time there is a function at the CN Center tickets should be sold based on "smoking" or "non smoking" areas. Let the buyer choose. Then on concert night, all those who chose the "smoking" section, can be directed down the aisle and out the back door, to the smoking section!