WILMINGTON — A North Carolina lawmaker is gauging support for a bill to allow coastal towns to enforce smoking bans on beaches.

Republican Ted Davis of New Hanover County is assessing support before introducing a bill.

Ocean beaches are considered state property in North Carolina, but beach smoking bans were approved last year in Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach.

Wrightsville Beach town manager Tim Owens says the town owns a large portion of its beach. But there's a conflict in the law that says beaches that have been rebuilt with sand are under state control.

Mayor David Cignotti says the town wants to be able to enforce the smoking ban from the edge of beachfront private property to the low tide mark.