California city OKs jail time for defying plastic straw ban
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sippers, beware.
A California coastal city has become the latest municipality to ban plastic straws, enacting what is potentially the strictest plastic prohibition in the country.
Santa Barbara earlier this month passed the ordinance authorizing hefty fines and even a possible jail sentence for violators who dole out plastic straws at restaurants, bars and other food establishments.
According to the ordinance, violators on their first offense will be given a written warning notice. But the second time a purveyor of plastic straws defies the ban is when the heavy hand of the law could clamp down.
In that case, the ordinance cites penalties from the city’s municipal code for a “fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months.”
In comparison, Seattle, which in the beginning of July became the first major city in the U.S. to ban plastic straws, only fines businesses $250 per offense.
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San Francisco is now a nastier crap hole than some of the world's poorest slums and they are going to fix it by throwing people in jail for plastic straws. GEE I WONDER IF THIS WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY EFFECT THE POOR?/S You can't even make this shit up. Loony liberalism at it's best.
Because human feces and hypodermic needles on the sidewalk - that's cool. But straws? Beyond the pale!
The article is about Santa Barbara not San Francisco.
Liberal nut jobs making stupid laws.
Do you have any idea who lives in Santa Barbara? Here's a hint, some of the richest people in the world. If you've never been there, don't knock it, it's one of the best places in California.
You asked so I looked and it come out to one of them things without being told.
How are you supposed to drink a milk shake? How are you supposed to consume a soda from a cup that has a lid on it? And for that matter, why aren't we getting rid of plastic cup lids?
Why does government have to keep screwing with my quality of life?
E.A Hmmm,, you mean cups can not be placed on the Lips and sip, what has evolution DONE ?? :-)
Not when I'm driving, no!
E.A LOL " drink driving " I thought was an offence . But that aside, you mean one can not wait to drink and eat while not on the " wheel "?
How UnNatural have we become?
You've never been on a road trip or picked up a soda on the way to or from work?
Most dentists would actually not recommend this.
Most don't recommend soda at all
Fortunately we have the government to outlaw that, too.
I've never had trouble buying soda, when I've chosen to do so. Have you, or are you engaging in hyperbole?
Believe me, I wish it was a joke.
Goodbye, Big Soda: New York Becomes First City to Ban Large-Sized Soft Drinks
A judge blocked the law, but the idea is still out there.
Banning large sodas is legal and smart
Ironically, it seems to me that if you outlaw large sodas, people will buy more small sodas than they otherwise might. Ya know that means? We need more straws!
So, you can buy soda.
It's not outlawed.
Hyperbole.
Actually it is just plain stupidity. Instead of a large soda you have to buy 2 smaller ones and produce twice the trash.
Liberal logic at it's best!
On the straw ban, if the MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEE forgets and gives the customer a straw without them asking the opressive Democrats will throw the POOR MINIMUM WAGE worker in jail!!! I guess they really DO need a $15.00 minimum wage to help them afford their governmental lunacy.
Party of the poor my ass!
It's still hyperbole. Soda isn't outlawed. That was the point of my comment.
My original point was to point out that relying on straws to preserve one's dental health from soda is a bit silly. Dentists would prefer that you just don't drink the soda, period.
But they tried and they still think it's worth trying. That means someone will find a way to do it that sticks. That's my point.
When did they try outlawing soda?
Links, please, so I know it's not dishonest hyperbole again.
No links?
No surprise.
I linked already to the very well known attempt by NYC to ban sodas based on size. What if that had held up? Today the limit is 16oz. Tomorrow, it's 8oz. Then 1oz. At what level do you feel like your liberty is being attacked?
Also, school districts in several states have banned sugary drinks at schools.
California Bans Soda in Schools
Are school soda bans effective?
Competitive Foods Are Available in Many Schools; Actions Taken to Restrict Them Differ by State and Locality
Why don’t school soda bans work?
The Association between State Bans on Soda Only and Adolescent Substitution with Other Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A cross-sectional study
And not one of those is an outlawing of soda. Soda is still readily available anywhere in the US. It's on the shelves in every grocery store. Every convenience store.
I graduated in 1992, and schools didn't sell soda, then, either. But I could bring it to school with me, and so can the kids in the schools in your links.
The only way you can claim soda is being outlawed is to redefine "outlawed", but I see you have dishonestly done so to feed your persecution complex.
They are not trying to outlaw it they just want to control how much of it you can consume. Which is still ridiculous
Exactly what I've been saying.
Don't worry. The rich folks that made the law won't be affected.
Um... Maybe a paper straw?
wood stir sticks have a bad taste
Use Straw ( Wheat ) ones that been in " Production " for millennia, evolution takes care of ALL needs!! ( Hence the use of the word " straw " )
Damn good idea since single use plastic is overwhelming the world. Seems that many corporations are joining in on this idea after China announced that it is handing the world a 111 million ton trash problem.
Many corporations are joining in the fight. Johnson and Johnson, National Geo, Starbucks, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Marriott, SeaWorld and Royal Caribbean to name a few.
I suppose that our resident environmental experts have a much better grip on the problem then most of the rest of the world so I see no reason not to dump the waste in their yard...
We should follow Singapore's lead on this...
Plastic might be overwhelming the world, but not in the form of straws.
I said ''single use plastic''....straws are part of that along with numerous other plastics.
Here is a link worth reading regarding plastic straws and other plastics that are dumped into the world oceans every day.
Interesting about the single use plastics. Australia has just banned the use of single use plastic bags, must like what are used in the grocery stores.
A number of countries have banned the use of plastic bags, Australia is the latest to join the movement.
Right. I'm not suggesting litter (or plastic litter specifically) isn't a problem. But here's the first sentence of your link:
So maybe we could look elsewhere rather than to snatch the straw out of my soda.
It also states that 500,000 plastic straws are used everyday in the U.S. Now add that to all the other plastic single use, lids on drinks, plastic bags and there you go...A huge problem. If it's 500,000 every day in the U.S. what do all the other countries add to this....Might be a problem, ya think.
This is also from the link...
So what? I'll bet you 99% end up in the trash or recycling like they're supposed to.
Again, so what? 500,000 straws times 365 days a year is 182.5 million straws a year from a country that represents less than 5% of the planet's population versus one turtle with a straw up his nose and this is a global calamity that requires emergency legislation? Come on!
Work on collecting the garbage and disposing of it properly. I haven't done anything to the precious turtle. I don't litter. I recycle my plastic just like I've been told to and what's my reward? You want to take away my straws forever or put me in jail! That's an insane reaction.
A number of countries do a lot of stupid things. That doesn't mean we have to copy them.
Have you noticed that the totalitarian leftist approach to solve any problem is to get the government to ban something? Why is a ban the best or only acceptable solution? Why punish law-abiding, environment-loving people (like myself) who don't litter and dispose of their trash exactly the way we have been instructed?
Take straws away from the litter bugs, if you must - or better yet, actually try enforcing existing laws against littering - but it's shitty public policy to punish good people who have been doing the right thing.
Don't be too impressed with Australia. They made it against the law to leave your car unlocked . Seriously.
Evening Tacos..Seriously....Don't have a problem with it..why wouldn't you lock your car??? Crikey you mob are a trusting lot if you don't...Lock mine all the time..why make it easy for car thieves....First thing we hear if a car is stolen did they "lock it"...If not expect a fine for not doing so..Has always been that way...
Your right and we have done our share of stupid things as a country.
And that is the point Taco's. Plastic never goes away, it doesn't deteriorate. It last for thousands of years and our landfills are overflowing with it and it is killing the environment. It can be recycled which we obviously need to do more of.
But if your straw is that important to you, go for it.
if you are really that concerned about straws, here's a plastic straw alternative you could explore:
now you should be able to sleep better at night with your straw , eh ?
So has California but SanFrancisco is still dirtier than most third word county slums.
I deal with folks from Australia on engine development almost on a daily basis. Just like here, there are plenty of opinions and discussions both sides or multiple sides of most political issues. This is one of those issues.
We, as a world need to address plastics. (DO NOT CONFUSE ME WITH BEING PRO NEW WORLD ORDER)
Without having read the law, as conveyed here it is not only onerous, but comes across as machiavellian. Typical of our political methods in general these days. Again, as conveyed, it seems a short sighted, knee jerk, do good law.
Yet, the fact of the matter is, something needs to happen as regards plastics.
IMO, if what is conveyed here is correct, this particular law should be contested and amended/replaced with the consequences aimed at a higher level and a list of acceptable alternate straw materials.
JMO
I don't know how wide spread that is, but where it is happening, sure makes you shake your head.
In America, we generally call that "victim blaming" and consider it wrong. Stealing is wrong whether the car is locked or unlocked. I generally choose to lock my car, but I live in a land that was dedicated to liberty so I have the choice not to.
The same is true of most regular (i.e. biodegradable) trash. The reason is because it gets sealed up in landfills away from moisture, air, and light so the microorganisms that would gobble them up (aka decomposition) can't work their magic.
Your problem shouldn't be with the items we use and the trash we make, but rather with our inadequate systems of disposal and recycling. You could outlaw every straw on planet Earth and you'd still have landfills full of garbage and a trash island floating in the Pacific. Straw bans won't change that.
Morning Taco....Yep it is your choice and so be it...I choose to lock my car even if it was not the law I would still do it...Yes you should be able to leave things unlocked and not bolted down etc, but things have changed and those days are now long gone unfortunately...Really has nothing to do with liberty. Just plain common sense which is also sorely missing these days...
Same here. Although I don't have any valuable in my car, and it is too old to be of interest to anyone to steal it or steal parts out of it, it is simply habit. Just like it is a habit to lock my home when I leave, even just to take the trash three apts down. Plus, if someone were to break into my car and cause damage, my insurance would go way up if I had not locked the car, Same with my home. There does not need to e a low to tell me to do those two things, it is something I learned when I was young from my Parents.
So you think it is a good idea to throw a poor MINIMUM WAGE worker that puts a straw in a drink without being asked jail time? You agree with this? Party of the poor my ass!
BTW isn't it a little ridiculous the plastic cup and lid is still OK?
Of course it is.
Yea I don't expect a sensible rebuttal to either of those points.
...Because there is none
Funny (not ha-ha) you mention this. Over the years, my town has changed its recycling laws multiple times and it all has to do with the best deal they can get.
We get a new recycling newsletter twice a year, and they change the rules each time.
Any time I have gotten a drink from a fast food place, the cups are not plastic. The lids are though. Also every time I have been, they just hand you a cup and you fill it yourself anyway.
So nothing taken from them.
Before plastic straws, we had paper ones. They would get soggy, bend, and fold so nothing could go through them. Sometimes you could suck them shut.
E.A so what is more important the Survival of the ecosystem, Life on Earth, or someone's wanting to " Suck " rather then " sip "?
All I was saying is that we survived before plastic straws, not that the ecosystem should collapse so I can keep using a plastic one. I rarely use a straw anyway.
They could push for all plastic straws to be made from biodegradable plastic like some food containers are made from plastic that uses corn. But, instead of using common sense, they decided to ban things outright.
Yes going back to paper or the biodegradable plastic they make golf tees out of would be a great idea
Since we only recycle 9% of the plastic used that doesn't seem like a solution does it.
Plastic made from corn is biodegradable.
It is a good start but not quite there yet.
It is going to take a change in the way people consume to have any substantial impact. We have become a disposable society.
I guess that gives the expression "That's the final straw" a new meaning.
E.A LOL only if it has the " Plastic " as part of it as I said earlier " Wheat Straws " have been used for sipping and making ICE for millennia! ( Other natural straws also )
Haaha
It's already illegal everywhere to litter. Just enforce that law.
Incarceration for using a plastic straw? Is your country going completely insane?
Donald Trump is President of the United States of America. Go, figure...
You might want to check on what Canada is doing regarding banning plastics. Vancouver just banned plastic straws and bags. Soon all of Canada will be doing the same, Buzz.
Although I doubt Canada would put anyone in jail for plastic bags or straws, with what has been happening in Canada lately, especially in Toronto where I lived for more than 50 years before moving to China, I have absolutely no desire to even visit there now let alone move back - thanks to Trudeau whose policies are turning the country into shit. I do worry about my daughter in Toronto, whose profession makes her a target.
He's sure as hell not the PM his father was, and IMO it's only because of his father that he is where he is.
Ok, waste of time discussing a serious wold wide problem, it's all about Trudeau...
Buzz, It's actually much worse. The person using the straw doesn't get thrown in jail. The way it works is the MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEE who puts a straw in a cup without the customer asking is the one who will get jail time.
Democrats sure have a funny way of showing they are the party of the poor people don't they?
No Buzz....some of the people on her are just making crap up. The ban only applies to the businesses that currently disperse them with their drinks. IT does not apply to the people on the street. Also, there is an exemption for the disabled and handicapped that need to use a straw.
You can read more about it here:
Also, the jail time penalty is only for businesses that continue to refuse to comply with the ban.
The stupid, moronic fear mongering never stops here.....(sigh)
Oh don't worry. You will only get thrown in jail if you are an American citizen in California.
That's one of the perks of being a citizen. /s
Nothing. 1st. The ban only applies to businesses, not end users. Try reading up on the ban and how it works before spreading such nonsense.
Contrary to what you may believe, Reagan was not perfect.
deleted
It's a pretty common tactic around here to change to subject, accuse racism or both if you start to lose a debate.
I don't get this.
If I would have posted a MEME that is cool but if I mention a Squirrel it is deleted?
There is a solution. An entrepreneur could produce collapsible gold-plated straws that everyone could carry around as a permanent item.
I'm not carrying anything. I have people for that.
LOL
While CA clutches its pearls over plastic straws ...
Yeahbut....Calif is not the only state where cities are banning plastic straws. Also, it is only cities that are banning plastic straws, not state laws.
But, we know that facts are an anathema to the right.
Yes, I know. However, the seeded article is about what's happening in CA, not other states.
That's a very inaccurate and hostile statement, Raven Wing.
More deflection? Wow.
For a long time I have made a big effort to recycle and reuse everything I can, these fools almost make me want to quit.
I remember a time when the only straws made were made out of paper, which is soluble and does not pollute the environment. There should be nothing wrong with starting to make the paper straws again. Even if they are not reusable, they are a far better solution to the existing problem of plastic pollution.
I was about to post the same thing, lol. You said it all.
Great minds, eh.
When was that?
I vaguely remember them.
I wonder why they quit making them?