Danvers tries to ban sidewalk, street smoking

Smoking has already been banned at Danvers High School, and now, there’s a push to stop people from smoking on nearby streets and sidewalks.

The School Committee voted this week to prohibit students from smoking during school hours on streets and sidewalks within sight of the Cabot Road high school, according to the office of the superintendent.

The move comes in response to what Principal Murray said was a growing number of complaints from area residents about students who get together to smoke at the corner of Cabot Road and Exeter Street, which is right across from the school’s front entrance.

The school's superintendent’s office says students caught smoking within sight of the school could face a three-day suspension and a $100 fine.

The school may require students to take a smoking cessation program at North Shore Medical Center in lieu of the suspensions and fines, the school said.

The school says the policy is meant to protect students' health and stop kids from standing across the street from the school and smoking in large groups.

State law prohibits merchants from selling cigarettes to kids under age 18, but smoking itself is not illegal.