As Twitchy reported earlier this month, Seattle became the first major city in the United States to ban plastic straws, authorizing a $250 fine but claiming that the initial phase of the law was “more about raising awareness.”
Santa Barbara, Calif., has seen Seattle’s $250 fine and raised it — to $1,000, plus the added threat of six months’ jail time.
Santa Barbara Authorizes Jail Time for Handing Out Straws https://t.co/IhcnHCH313 via @KatTimpf pic.twitter.com/vW0mcJjQwF
— National Review (@NRO) July 24, 2018
Kat Timpf writes in National Review:
Santa Barbara’s ordinance “is likely the most severe straw ban in the country,” according to Reason, but it’s far from the only straw ban. Seattle banned plastic straws earlier this month, mandating a a $250 fine for violators. Santa Barbara, however, has gone much further than Seattle — even aside from the harsher punishments its law imposes. Santa Barbara has banned not only plastic straws, but also compostable straws. Oh, and each individual straw counts as a separate infraction, meaning that if someone got busted handing out straws to a table of four people, he or she could end up facing years behind bars.
There is insane and then there is jailing-people-for-handing-out-straws-insane. https://t.co/bLBoAdNf48
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) July 25, 2018
Iowahawk is not impressed:
I will now leverage my connections to become kingpin of America's most ruthless and feared illegal plastic straw cartel https://t.co/KCCXAqhxJT
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 25, 2018
My new name is Carlos Bendi pic.twitter.com/Bcsrsk4T4w
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 25, 2018
The Santa Barbara Straw Police? The judges? Do not to make me the laugh, they are in my pocket, ese
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 25, 2018
Not looking forward to the news media swarming all over the story of a cop chokeholding the guy selling loosie straws in the back alley
— Rugged Indivisualist (@RIndivisualist) July 25, 2018
See, first you give out a free straw or two. Then, once the kiddies realize how much cooler it is to drink their life killing sodas using them, you have them hooked for life, baby.
— Just Tom (@thomasa56) July 25, 2018
now, only criminals will have straws
— 567opositive (@567opositive) July 25, 2018
It's just going to shame plastic straw users into the shadows and benefit the illegal straw cartels that prey on the weak.
— Dan Saunders (@saunpedro) July 25, 2018
Now the rest of America knows the INSANITY we live with here in SB. Homeless everywhere, defecating on the streets, 39 shuttered business on our State St in 8 city blocks, and we have our @SBCity Council arresting restaurants or individuals for hanging out straws….pure Insanity
— Elyse Rossler (@elyse777) July 24, 2018
Congratulations to Santa Barbara on fixing every one of their real problems so they can focus on this kind of stupidity!
— zone of danger (@mr_bovine_jonie) July 25, 2018
How can they tell how many straws there are littering with all those syringes and feces laying around?
— Deplorable Gardener (@7munkee) July 25, 2018
I'm so glad I'm old enough to remember what it was like living in America.
— Ric Kaysen (@rickaysen) July 25, 2018
Back when we could pass out plastic straws without consequence…it was such a wonderful time
— Derek Ahlswede (@derekahlswede) July 25, 2018
“Criminal Justice Reform!”
“Put people in jail for straws!”
Same people
— Yusef Smith (@ToolboxSmith) July 25, 2018
Oh, for the love of. Perhaps the handers out of plastic straws could claim mental illness and thus escape jail time, as violent felons can now do.
— dizzheart (@dizzheart) July 24, 2018
Inmate arrested for murder: Hey homie what you in for?
Homie: Yo dog, I handed out 57 straws dog.
Murderer: Daaaaaaaang dog you're screwed, I feel good right now
— Rich Pavlik (@thumperalpha) July 25, 2018
Just tell the cops that you're handing out undocumented suction devices
— Bryan Michaels (@bryanjmicheals) July 25, 2018
Great. A whole new set of laws based on a single disturbing photo of a turtle that made a bunch of leftists sad. Imagine if abortion photos made the rounds. I would say those are infinitely more sad and more frequent than a turtle impaled with a straw.
— zone of danger (@mr_bovine_jonie) July 25, 2018
The latest new obsession that gives the left purpose.
— I'm the Norm (@norm_ray) July 25, 2018
Handing out marijuana, okay, straws, jail time. Got it.
— Debbie MacDonald (@DmactotheD) July 25, 2018
Sanctuary for illegal aliens, jail for straw users.
— Kelli Wilcox (@TeamwilcoxKelli) July 25, 2018
knowingly (& purposely) spreading HIV is no longer a felony in CA, so handing out straws is now equal in the eyes of the California law.
— Eric Masters (@Masters512) July 25, 2018
California is completely off the rails
— Jeff Haksaw (@unclered77) July 25, 2018
Related:
Starbucks to follow Seattle's lead, phase out plastic straws 'as opposition to them grows' https://t.co/xFAnJa0rUp
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 9, 2018
