VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – We’re heading into the first full summer of smoke-free beaches and so far, park rangers are pleasantly surprised with how well the bylaw has been accepted.

“The majority of people have been pretty cooperative.  We try to be low-key with the whole issue.”

Glen Schultz, a supervisor of Vancouver’s beaches, says bylaw officers will continue to be patient with people because they understand it’s still going to take some time to teach everyone the new rules.

“We’re just going to ask people politely.  We’re not going to make a big deal out of it, but certainly if we get a complaint we will go over and deal with it.”

In the nine months since this bylaw has been in effect, park rangers have issued only five tickets, and all of those were to smokers who had already been told more than once to butt out.