New York City’s tough smoking laws have nothing on Albany, where bureaucrats have hired a “cigarette cop” to patrol a newly expanded perimeter around the Capitol building where smoking is now prohibited.
Officials defended the hiring of a security guard whose sole assignment is to go after smokers puffing away in forbidden areas.
“Previously, the non-smoking range had been 25 feet from building entrances and was extended based on a goal of further protecting building occupants and visitors to the Capitol, many of whom are children on class or camp field trips, from second-hand smoke,” said Heather Groll, a spokeswoman for the Office of General Services.
The guard works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., alerting smokers of the new boundary lines, which are clearly marked with dozens of signs encircling the building and half of the park space around it.
Groll said the guard’s duties are to “politely explain the new rules” and she called the response to the new setup “overwhelmingly positive.”
But some smokers were steamed.
“It feels like discrimination,” said one state worker.
Many ridiculed the rules, pointing out that the state doesn’t have jurisdiction over city sidewalks.
“We cannot prohibit smoking on city sidewalks but have politely explained the intent of the new rules around the Capitol to those standing just over the line,” Groll responded.
The guard declined to comment.
It’s not clear how much he earns because his employer, Summit Security Services, has a $50 million contract that covers a variety of state buildings.
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