115$ for smoking!

[Bulletz]

Well today swim was just starting swim's lunch at high school. So swim bums a smoke of his friend. suddenly the school constable comes up an tells swim and his friend they can't be smoking because they are underaged. First of all swim think's that's a ridiculous law (although I can understand why it is in place). He then tells swim he is going to give them both a ticket (for smoking!). Swim could understand if swim was downing a beer in public, but smoking?!?! So swim goes to his office and swim figures well, ok this thing will only be a maximum of 50$, it ends up being 115$! For smoking a cigarette, swim get's charged 115$!!! swim think's that is an outrage. Luckily the constable is letting swim pay off the fine by doing 5 hours of community service. The constable said next time it will be just the fine. Is swim just overreacting? Or is that really a bit much for underaged smoking?

[Powder_Reality]

What exactly is a "school constable" and what authority does he have? Was it because you were underage smoking on school grounds, or just because you were smoking and not 18 years old?

When SWIM was in high school, they had a single cop that walked around the school to "keep things in order". SWIM's school had an outdoor smoking area where everyone could go smoke, and he never saw anyone get in trouble for underage smoking. In fact, SWIM has never heard of anyone in his city getting a ticket for underage smoking.

SWIM isn't familiar with underage smoking laws, but he does think that $115 is rather harsh for smoking a cigarette.

[Riconoen {UGC}]

Wow that may very well be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. the laws in the us at least do not prohibit the possesion or consumption of tobacco by under 18's only the purchase. That officer was way out of line.

[Each Hit]

first of all, i think you have to be 18 to post here. second of all, dont be a dumbass and smoke on school grounds. third, nicotine is one of the most addictive substances around. i don't know many smokers who are glad they smoke. besides, it's not like you are actually paying $115. you are doing 5 hours of community service instead, which is like getting paid $23/hr to probably do some low-labor menial job. good luck finding a deal like THAT in the real world

[RPS]

As SWIM graduated highschool a year and a bit ago, SWIM can vouche, and say that there are fines that are handed out frequently- but that is why you smoke up in the designated area (Way to be stupid, BTW enjoy your ban)

Smoking and/or holding lit tobacco is not allowed by anyone (staff, students, parents, grandmothers and visitors) anywhere on school property (school buildings, parking lot, soccer field, drive way, courtyard, cars in parking lot) at any time (24 hours, 7 days a week). This includes private schools.
This law has been in effect since 1989 if I remember correctly from my law classes.

Also, the minimum fine for smoking on school property in Ontario is $120.00

Cheers,
RPS

[Forthesevenlakes]

Originally Posted by Each Hit

first of all, i think you have to be 18 to post here.

That was duly noted. Smoking on school grounds is always illegal, no matter who you are. The cop had every right to do what he did, and it sounds like he was even letting the kid off easy. But that dumb move of the day was second only to lying about his age in the forum...then posting a thread about how he's underage. Schools have every right to ban smoking on their property, since it would encourage kids to be late to class as they went out for smokes between classes, and additionally it facilitates underage smoking since it makes it quite easy for younger kids to procure cigarettes via older friends. Not to mention that smokers generally are not conscientious about where they throw their cigarette butts, so litter would become a problem too.