California Lawmaker Floats Measure That Would Penalize Waiters Who Offer Customers Plastic Straws

Just when I think California can’t get any more wacked out.

According to this, California state lawmaker Ian Calderon introduced a bill that would criminalize offering plastic straws to customers at dine-in restaurants, because PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AWARENESS. Duh.

Sacramento, CA – Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) introduced Assembly Bill 1884 this week, a measure that calls upon dine-in restaurants to have a straws-upon-request policy.

“We need to create awareness around the issue of one-time use plastic straws and its detrimental effects on our landfills, waterways, and oceans,” Majority Leader Ian Calderon said. “AB 1884 is not ban on plastic straws. It is a small step towards curbing our reliance on these convenience products, which will hopefully contribute to a change in consumer attitudes and usage.”

Are their intentions pure? Perhaps you could say so. But that’s how all of the left’s “grand” ideas start. It’s about the “greater good.” In reality, it’s an opportunity for the Nanny State to grow. Progressive policies never shrink government. They create more rules, regulations and bureaucracy and cloak it under “the greater good.”

Under this proposed bill, waiters and waitresses who automatically offer plastic straws to customers could face $1,000 fines or a few months in the slammer. Yay for “saving the Earth!”

I’d like to clarify that #AB1884 (Straws Upon Request) is (a) NOT a ban; (b) should it become law, it will NOT make it a crime for servers to provide plastic straws. My intention is simply to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic straws on our environment.

— Ian C. Calderon (@IanCalderon) January 26, 2018

No. It wouldn’t be a crime to use a plastic straw. It would only be a crime to offer one without the customer asking. Doesn’t that make you feel so much better? Thanks for the clarification, Ian!

$1000 fine? Really?

— The Bitchy Waiter ® (@bitchywaiter) January 26, 2018

Gotta respect that dude’s name.

No, not really. The penalties are attached to the code section the bill is currently in. That will change. Amendments are part of the legislative process.

— Ian C. Calderon (@IanCalderon) January 26, 2018

Notice that he’s not denying that there will, in fact, be penalties.

If he wanted to “raise awareness”, film a PSA or suggest a resolution not use them in the legislature.

This was an attention grab and it worked. I guess he’s patting himself on the back now😒

— Rebecca (@suchislife2673) January 27, 2018

If a server gave a straw to a customer who did not request one, that would be a crime, under your bill.

— Gregory Pruden (@gregorypruden) January 26, 2018

Exactly. He can spin it any way he wants, but he’s not fooling anybody. Read the existing bill. See for yourself.

“Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for, and provides for regulation by the State Department of Public Health of, retail food facilities, as defined, and requires local health agencies to enforce these provisions. Existing law requires, except as otherwise provided, a person who violates any provision of the code to be guilty of a misdemeanor with each offense punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 6 months, or by both,” the bill reads.

“This bill would prohibit a food facility, as specified, where food may be consumed on the premises from providing single-use plastic straws to consumers unless requested by the consumer,” the bill adds. “By creating a new crime and imposing additional enforcement duties on local health agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.”

A state-mandated local program on STRAWS.

This conflicts with the text of your bill. “By creating a new crime…” Why do you need a bill to raise awareness? Go make a TV spot, create a website, get Buzzfeed to do a write-up. Legislation is a last resort. https://t.co/gO92lmLJWk

— Tommy (@tciccotta) January 26, 2018

Full disclosure. I’m plastic straw happy. I LOVE plastic straws. Sometimes, I even grab an extra straw when I’m at Starbucks just because. I may or may not have a mini stash for emergencies. That begs the question. How long until they start fining people like me? Before we know it, the freaking straw police will be peeking over our shoulder. This is– yes, I’m about to say it– a slippery slope.

What about when they give me too many napkins? Or a soup spoon when I don’t order soup? You know they wash the silverware even if you don’t use it. Isn’t that a waste of natural resources?

— Ransom in Space (@KeithOsmun) January 26, 2018

Odd, isn’t it? Don’t Democrats pretend to haaaaaaaaaaaate oppressive, controlling measures?

California lawmakers are eager to throw a waiter in the slammer for offering a plastic straw. But an illegal immigrant who entered the country ILLEGALLY? Come on down! Make yourself at home! Here’s a driver’s license. Enjoy!