The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board passed a ban at its May 17 meeting making it illegal for smokers to light up in any of the city's 34 public parks or on its 10 hiking trails.

The law will go into effect within the next 30 days, once no-smoking signs are posted on park district property.

The ban is an extension of a current state law that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of play areas.

"We just want people to stop smoking in the parks," said Colleen Janssen, park district spokeswoman. "It's a bigger issue than people think. People put the butts out on the ground and little children pick them up and put them in their mouth."

The board passed the ban unanimously last Thursday, but some of the meeting's attendees- although favoring the new regulation- said they felt it would be a futile effort.

Simi resident Doug Schwartz pointed out that he regularly sees kids skateboarding in parks that have signs posted prohibiting that activity.

"Making a law banning smoking isn't going to change people's ability to be responsible," Schwartz said. "In fact, making a law banning smoking isn't going to stop people from (smoking)."

Larry Peterson, park district general manager, admitted that it would be difficult to control all smoking in public parks but said he hoped visitors would abide by the new rule and at least wait until they leave the park to light up.

"We are not telling people they can't smoke," Peterson said. "We're just saying that they can't do it in our parks."

Park rangers and local police will have the authority to cite people who violate the ban. A warning will be issued to firsttime offenders. Repeated infractions could lead to a $100 fine and the amount would increase with each citation.

"This is another tool for the park district rangers to use in keeping the parks safe and clean for the community," Peterson said.

For more information on the smoking ban, call the park district at (805) 584-4400.