§ 20-122. Smoking in parish buildings prohibited; exceptions.

(1)

As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning is intended:

(a)

Parish building means and includes any building or structure, or portion thereof, owned and/or operated by the Parish of Jefferson.

(b)

Person means and includes any person, whether a Jefferson Parish employee or nonemployee, present in any parish building.

(c)

Smoke or smoking shall have the same definition as that given in section 20-121.

(d)

Tobacco product means and includes products containing tobacco, tobacco related products, tobacco substitutes, including but not limited to plants or smoke or vapor-producing substances and/or liquids placed into an electronic cigarette.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke in any area of any parish building designated as a non-smoking area.

(3)

Signs shall be posted in all parish buildings which signs shall state "NO SMOKING" in letters of such size and color as to be clearly legible and/or shall contain the international no-smoking symbol, which depicts a smoking cigarette, encircled by a red circle with a red slash across the circle and over the cigarette. The signs shall be posted no less than five (5) feet nor more than eight (8) feet above floor level and shall be of sufficient number and location to inform all persons entering and/or present in the building of the smoking prohibition.

(4)

The violation of this section is declared to be a nuisance and in addition to the penalties provided in section 1-10, any person who violates this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first offense, and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second offense.

(5)

Signs shall be posted in all parish buildings which signs shall state "SMOKING" in letters of such size and color as to be clearly legible. The signs shall be posted no less than five (5) feet nor more than eight (8) feet above floor level and shall be of sufficient number and location to inform all persons entering and/or present in the building of the restricted areas in which smoking of tobacco products, non-tobacco products, or electronic cigarettes is permitted, except for illegal or illicit products.

(6)

Upon discovery of a violation of this section, a citation shall be issued by any sheriff's deputy, police officer, security officer employed by the parish, or any other person or persons designated by the parish president. Citations for violations of this section shall be made available to the person or persons in charge of each parish building. Citations shall be returnable to either the First Parish Court or the Second Parish Court for the Parish of Jefferson.

(Ord. No. 17277, § I, 6-24-87; Ord. No. 17820, § 1, 9-13-89; Ord. No. 17981, § 1, 5-9-90; Ord. No. 18836, § 3, 8-25-93; Ord. No. 25175 , § 2, 6-22-16; Ord. No. 25602 , § 5, 6-27-18)