Smokers Fined for Lighting Up in Tokyo Streets (Can't happen here?)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=573&e=6&cid=573&u=/nm/20021101/od_nm/smoking_dc ^ | 11/1/02 | Reuters

[ChadGore]

Smokers Fined for Lighting Up in Tokyo Streets

Fri Nov 1,10:29 AM ET

TOKYO (Reuters) - Lighting up on Tokyo's streets became hazardous to more than health on Friday as the first luckless Japanese were fined for smoking in some downtown areas.

Smoking on the street was banned in busy parts of central Tokyo's Chiyoda ward a month ago, but a system of fines -- up to $163 for multiple offences -- began on November 1.

By noon, cigarette patrol officers had issued citations ordering 13 people to pay fines of 2,000 yen for smoking or discarding cigarette butts on the streets, an official said.

One woman caught early in the morning told the officers: "Will you take responsibility if I'm late for work? All I have to do is pay money, right?" Kyodo news agency said.

She angrily threw three 10,000 yen bills on the street and walked away, prompting the officials to race after her to return it.

The regulations, rare in a country where about 31 percent of all adults and nearly half of men smoke, were introduced by the ward office to help keep the area litter-free and cut down on the number of incidents where people are burned by passing smokers.

Another man paid the fine on the spot and was quoted by Kyodo as saying: "I knew the fines would start today, but I thought this area was all right.

"I was unfortunate," he added.

[ChadGore]

Can't happen here ???

[ChadGore]

Bump

[ChadGore]

bttt

[Bahbah]

It will happen here.

[Enemy Of The State]

Well, its for their own protection you know. /sacrasm

[ChadGore]

bttt

[ChadGore]

bump

[ChadGore]

bump

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Smoke in the street ? Heck, I remember when it was commonplace to see men peeing in the street in Japan.

[robertpaulsen]

"She angrily threw three 10,000 yen bills on the street..."

What is that, about 23 cents?

[Clock King]

Japan, where I spent some time, is a "clean-freak" nation. That is probably the basis for the new law. Understand that this is a nation where men will sometimes urinate in the street in public right out in plain view. The authorities are probably trying to clean up their country's image and behavior.

[sushiman]

I am in Japan ...They are the worst litter bugs in the world ...Dog crap on every sidewalk ( no pooper scooper laws ) ...Men ( and wee kids ) pee wherever they feel like it ...Junk cars litter the hinterland ...Rivers filled with garbage ...Etc...

[Commiewatcher]

"I am in Japan ...They are the worst litter bugs in the world ..."

You must have never seen the aftermath of the average democRAT rally.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If the little teenage Japanese whores in Shibuya or Harajuku or Dotonbori who run around with their trousers down to their crotches, chain smoking on their cell phones as they walk, and sometimes obliviously brushing their lit cigarettes against people's arms and little kid's eyes, (lawabiders who are also trying to just utilize the PUBLIC pedestrian way), well then, I say.... BRING ON THE FINES AND THE PATROLs. Chiyoda Ward has some sense.

Anyone who has not been in Tokyo, Japan in 2002 and does not know directly how bad and dangerous it is in these inconsiderate crowds, really should not post in fear or opppostion to what the Japanese authorities are finally having the common sense to implement and what might eventually come to crowded metropolitan areas in the US.

Walking tobacco addicts don't have a "right" to put your kid's eye out or ruin a good, light suit (cases which have been happening in Japan and are in the news).

[AmericanInTokyo]

It should be stated that in some cases in metro areas, the sidewalks are 300-400% more packed than in the United States...with no room to walk in the street due to the proximity of trucks/cars passing by.

If people in the US visualize only America in this case in their minds and consider Japan is overreacting, then they don't have a clear picture of the different situation here and why these actions might become necessary for public safety. Hooray for the Chiyoda Ward authorities in Tokyo, and fine those little troublemaker joshikosei and disgusting salaryman till it hurts. Freedom (rights) come with corresponding responsibilities. When 'responsibilities' are shirked, the 'rights' stand a good chance of being taken away.

[mysterio]

Wow! You managed to cover :

1. Your disapproval of fashion trends.

2. Your hatred of cell phones

3. Your hatred of smokers.

And you did it in just one post! Congratulations! I think smokers are too meek and mild. I have always tried to be considerate, but I think if I see you, I will blow it right in your face. If you come back to the states, that is.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You got it.

Oh, but you forgot one thing.

Idiots like you.

[mysterio]

Relax. Have a cigarette and you'll feel better.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I am a libertarian, in support of the individual's right to breath free air, and not to have ashes on their clothes by another individual when they don't want it, or to brush up against this invasive, coercive action which comes in the form of tobacco fire, which is a public health and injury hazard on the public causeway. You support actions which infringe upon people's individual and free enjoyment of peace and health, which is both arbitrary and fascist.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you. That was mighty kind of you.