Strolling along Gulfport’s beaches, visitors often come across cigarette butts scattered in the sand — a sight city leaders are hoping to change.

In response, Gulfport officials are moving toward a ban on smoking in several beachside areas. The city council has already given preliminary approval, with a final vote scheduled for Tuesday.

If passed, the ordinance would prohibit smoking not only on the sand but also in adjacent grassy areas, at pavilions, and up to the sidewalks.

Mayor Karen Love, a longtime advocate for cleaner beaches, said the measure is overdue.

“I’ve been doing beach cleanups for about 13 years now, and without a doubt, the number one item I pick up is cigarette butts,” Love said. “It’s not even close.”

The proposed ban would apply to both cigarettes and vaping products, though unfiltered cigars would remain exempt. The move aligns with a Florida state law that gives cities and counties the authority to restrict smoking at public beaches and parks.

“I believe every single beach community around us has already enacted similar bans,” Love added. “In many ways, we’re playing catch-up.”

But not everyone supports the idea.

Deshazior Towns, a lifelong Gulfport resident, said the ban would unfairly limit personal freedom.

“It’s already so restricted where we can smoke,” he told Bay News 9. “When we’re out on the beach with family and friends, we should be allowed to enjoy ourselves. This feels like an overreach.”

Although there are designated places near the beach, such as pavilions, to dispose of cigarette waste, officials say it’s not enough.

This isn’t the city’s first attempt to crack down on beach smoking. A similar ordinance passed in 2011 was later overturned following a legal challenge.

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