Bill to ban smoking on LIRR platforms gains support

Several Long Island legislators have hopped aboard the no-smoking train, supporting legislation that would ban smoking on all outdoor Long Island Rail Road platforms.

Assembly members Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) and Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead) are backing a bill introduced earlier this month by Rockland County Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) that would prohibit smoking in all LIRR and Metro-North Railroad ticketing, boarding and waiting areas.

“It’s a good idea because secondhand smoke is a cancer causer,” Weisenberg recently told the Herald. “[We need this] to protect the public, to protect our children from being exposed to smoke.”

Jaffee called the legislation, which she introduced on Jan. 5, common sense.

“Cramped commuters deserve protections from the health hazards of second-hand smoke,” she told the Herald. “And with this bill, we’re following the lead of the MTA, which banned smoking on subway platforms but not commuter rail. This law simply improves a ban that currently protects some commuters, but not all.”

Jaffee attempted to introduce such a bill last session, but it failed to get out of committee.

“Last session, this law stalled from lack of action in the state Senate,” Jaffee said. “But since we reintroduced it this month, several senators have expressed interest in signing on, making us confident for its chances of passage this year.”

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) said he is taking a serious look at the bill.

“Anytime that we can protect individuals from secondhand smoke, it’s certainly noteworthy to take a look at the legislation,” he said, “so we’re reviewing it right now.”

Fuschillo authored the 2003 Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking in virtually all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, and in public transportation facilities and vehicles. He now chairs the Senate’s
Transportation Committee.