NYC Smoking Ban In Parks Will Not Be Enforced By NYPD: Mayor

Who is Mayor Bloomberg counting on to enforce the city's new smoking ban in parks and beaches? You, of course.

The Mayor said the NYPD is too busy to police the actions of scofflaw smokers. That job is best left to the citizenry, according to Bloomberg.

"The police will not be enforcing this. That's not going to be their job," Bloomberg told a caller to his WOR-AM radio show. "This is going to be enforced by public pressure."

While cops are out chasing hardened criminals, Bloomberg said it would only take gentle nudging from fellow New Yorkers to get most smokers to put out their cigarettes.

"Mainly it's just everybody's going to turn to you and say, 'Hey, you shouldn't be smoking,' Bloomberg said. "And you know, most people listen to that."

The City Council voted overwhelmingly for the park smoking ban last week and the Mayor said he supports the law.