Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on May 8, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

$100 for smoking on the beach. $500 for swimming off a pier or breakwater under House Bill 4699. Where will it end? These legislators are just bound and determined to force citizens to impose a part time legislature as a self defense measure.

makes a consequence for the beach to be used as an ashtray! Nothing like digging in the sand and your kid finds a fresh butt for his sand castle. Perhaps if smokers were responsible with their butts...

if you weren't such control freaks we could enjoy life. If all you tards want to be like khalifornia, why don't you just go there. Please. It's not like we don't have real problems to worry about.

GET REAL! IS'NT THERE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO IN LANSING, THAN WASTE TIME WITH THIS?? I ENJOY SMOKING A PIPE AND SOMETIMES WALK ALONG THE BEACH. ALL I NEED IS TO WASTE MY TIME AND MONEY ON LAWERS DEFENDING MY SELF IN COURT BECAUSE SOME SELF RIGHTOUS PERSON WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO, THAN SUE ME! ONLY A LAWER COULD COME UP A NOTHER WAY TO MAKE MONEY IN COURT! BY THE WAY, SMOKING A PIPE OR NON-FILTERED CIGS. DON'T LEAVE BUTTS ON THE BEACH!

and Exciting ways that they are coming up with to control us and take our money? Libs are too ignorant to notice but the grown ups should be able to see it. "The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor objectively interpreted-and you can create a nation of law-breakers--and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand ATLAS SHRUGGED The forces of safety are afoot in the land. I, for one, believe it is a conspiracy - a conspiracy of Safety Nazis shouting "Sieg Health" and seeking to trammel freedom, liberty, and large noisy parties. The Safety Nazis advocate gun control, vigorous exercise, and health foods. The result can only be a disarmed, exhausted, and half-starved population ready to acquiesce to dictatorship of some kind. O'Rourke, P.J.

It seems to me that smokers have more rights than non-smokers... Your outside enjoying the beauty of nature and you have to smell the foul smell of cigarettes. Think about the children breathing second hand smoke. It is your habit do in your own space of your home or vehicle.

I'm not a smoker, but believe in the philosophy of live and let live. Doesn't our legislature have more important issues to be concerned about?

I happen to be smoker, I dont put butts in the sand or flip them into the water etc. I learned how to "field strip" cigarettes in the Army. As for smelling smoke, what if I find your barbeque or your campfire, offensive? Or what about your perfume? Or the scent of your sunscreen? Can I inturn sue? Where do you draw the line? Enough is enough with this silly legislation. Grow up and be an adult instead of some High School Sophomore trying to rule the playgroud.

Michelle, this bill has liberal written all over it. The fellow had a point who said when will this stop? The other person's barbecue could also be considered offensive. I thought that you were different a number of years ago when we shared a table at a Lincoln Day dinner on the campus of LSSU. It seems that you have been in office too long. Focus on reducing the legislation and tax burden on the citizens of Michigan.

A brilliant, blinding, retina-searing example of why we need to limit our legislature to part-time "service."

When did it become your job to make war on taxpayers? You are supposed to represent ALL voters. You know things like PROMOTE the use of public facilities. This may be a "Politically Correct" issue, but first it is a Civil Liberties issues. What next? Diesel engines give me migraines... can we ban those? What about gasoline powered lawn mowers and weed wackers?

It's about taking more of our money. Note how Michigan's share of the tobacco settlement money gets spent on 500-dollar college "scholarships" (aka trough-fodder for buying votes) instead of recompense for the cost of lung diseases upon our state-run health dole. But the courtesan press and the neofascist pressure groups will eat this up and bray for more of this "making a difference."

Why don't you guys go get real jobs? Maybe then you would realize that we are not in khalifornia and don't want to be. Leave Us Alone, Quit With The Stupid laws. Quit Stealing Our Money. Cut your budget, it's only a 2% shortfall. Cut everything 2% and you balance. i know that there is way more than 2% fat in everything this state does.

Is there a particular reason why the citizens of Michigan are allowing the communists to dictate social policy at all levels? The tobacco tax itself is a violation of the U. S. Constitution at several levels, but most clearly in violation of Article I, Section 9, Clause 5 and Section 10, Clause 2. In addition, the State of Michigan levies a 6% sales tax on the cost of a pack of cigarettes, the federal tax and state sin-tax. We may be a nation of laws; not men – but who writes the laws? No one has the capacity or authority to legislate morality, but it is most certain anyone is capable of legislating immorality.

Smoke all you want. I chew. If you won't blow your smoke on me, I won't spit my chew on you. And while we are at it, ash trays were put in cars for a purpose. I'm tired of picking up you butts in my yard.

are a Dolt. I have sat next to smokers and chewers at sporting events. I would much rather have a smoker than some twit drooling into a cup every 15 seconds.

Like smoking at the beach is such a problem. If you are close enough to be bothered by someone smoking outside then you are standing to close. This anti smoking stuff is getting crazy and I am not a smoker

practice for the next draconian controls they want to put on you and I. If you think this is bad just wait until they provide your health care, then they will be able to stop anything they want. Like skiing? Not anymore, it seems that the great nanny is spending too much fixing broken legs. Motorcycles? Not anymore and don't get us started on what these two wheeled deathtraps cost the great benevolent nanny state. Beer? Sorry boys. Not good for you and costs us too much. Burgers? Do you have any idea how much the nanny state is spending fixing the diseases of fat folks? It is politically correct to mess with smokers and lots of folks that should know better are jumping on the bandwagon. This country cannot survive the vast numbers of folks who think that the government will fix all their problems.

We could be doing MUCH better overall in tourism

I have a better idea. Why doesn't this government just ban PEOPLE ALL TOGETHER! that way, all problems would be solved! Part time NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!