Silly Straw Law

What to Know: A California city has outlawed plastic straws (with some exceptions) and could hit violators with a fine and jail time.

“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,” Fox News reports. “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.’”

The TPPF Take: The questionable justification for the law (based on dubious research) and its likely ineffectiveness aside, the Santa Barbara ordinance shows the hypocrisy of the left.

“Progressives argue against imprisoning criminals — and in some cases, they even call for abolishing the prison system itself,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “But at the same time, they propose locking up restaurateurs for handing customers small, hollow plastic tubes. What’s needed here is a consistent world view, one that sees the need for thoughtful, common sense criminal justice reform.”

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