RESIDENTS SUPPORT BUTT BAN CITY'S LAW AGAINST SMOKING IN PARKS MEETS WITH WIDESPREAD APPROVAL.

Losing the right to light up in city parks failed to ignite San Fernando on Wednesday, with many residents - smokers and nonsmokers alike - voicing support for the new ban.

``It's a good thing,'' said Belia Trujillo, a nonsmoking resident enjoying the shade at Recreation Park with a friend Wednesday afternoon. ``A lot of children play here and they find the butts on the floor and start playing smoking. I've seen it.''

The San Fernando City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to the new law, the first of its kind in the San Fernando Valley area. The measure will take effect 30 days from adoption and makes smoking in all of the city's four parks an infraction with a maximum fine of up to $100 but no jail time.

Several residents expressed support Wednesday for the anti-smoking action, including smoker Jose Ameszua of Pacoima.

``That's fine. It's better for people's health,'' he said, in between puffs on a cigarette on the sidewalk at the San Fernando Mall. However, he drew the line at banning smoking on public streets. That's different, he said ``because there's a lot of people in the park, kids.''

The new law makes tiny San Fernando one of 11 cities in the state to regulate smoking in city parks, joining Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and San Francisco. As several other cities consider similar bans, including Pasadena, Long Beach and San Gabriel, a state law goes into effect in January that bans smoking in or near playground areas.

Los Angeles already has a parks policy banning smoking in playgrounds.

While the San Fernando Police Department has no plans for a special butt-busting patrol, officers will cite smokers found in parks and act on complaints the department receives, Sgt. Mike Langston said.

Police also plan to work with city officials to flesh out a detailed enforcement plan, Langston added.

``We're still waiting for direction from the City Council on how to enforce it,'' he said. Right now, the most police can do is to issue warnings to violators, he said.

Langston doesn't expect the new law to be a significant change for park users or residents. ``I don't think people go to the parks to smoke,'' he said. ``I don't think it's going to be a problem.''

He may be right.

A mid-day cruise through the city's parks failed to turn up one smoker, discovered few discarded butts, but revealed many supporters of the ban.

``It's fine with me,'' said Matthew Bourbeau, a nonsmoker taking his lunch break at Recreation Park. ``I wasn't even aware of (the ban).

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``It's fine with me. I was't even aware of the (the ban).''

Matthew Bourbeau

Nonsmoker