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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE NO. l695 <br /> <br />AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES EXCEPT IN <br />DESIGNATED SMOKING AREAS1 MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT1 DECLARING SMOKING <br />TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE~ DECLARING THAT A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE <br />IF THE PERSON SMOKES AT A PUBLIC MEETING OR ANY PUBLIC PLACE AND THE <br />PERSON IS NOT IN A DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA, AND PROVIDING THAT SUCH <br />OFFENSE IS A MISDEMEANOR1 PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE1 PROVIDING A <br />SEVERABILITY CLAUSE 1 PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING ANY <br />PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR <br />AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN TWO <br />HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)~ PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE <br />CAPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE1 FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS <br />LAW 1 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the Surgeon General of the United States has declared <br /> <br />that.smoking is the number one public health issue of our time~ and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, smoking adversely affects health of employees and <br /> <br />customers of businesses~ and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City of La Porte recognizes the increasing <br /> <br />evidence that smoke creates a danger to the health of some citizens, <br /> <br />and is a cause of annoyance and discomfort1 and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, in order to protect the health and welfare of those <br /> <br />citizens, as well as to protect the rights of smokers and <br />nonsmokers, it is necessary to restrict smoking in public places <br /> <br />except in areas designated as smoking areas~ and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the unregulated spread of the detrimental effects of <br /> <br />smoking and the potential harm smoking creates to some citizens of <br /> <br />the City is hereby declared a nuisance1 <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY <br /> <br />OF LA PORTE: <br /> <br />Section 1. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte <br />is hereby amended by adding a Section to be numbered 12 1/8-1, <br /> <br />"HEALTH," which said section reads as follows: <br /> <br />Section 12 l/8-l, "HEALTH." Smoking prohibited in public <br />places. <br /> <br />(a) Definitions. <br /> <br />1. "Public meeting" means a meeting open to the public and <br />held in an enclosed area unless the meeting is held in a <br />private residence. <br /> <br />2. "Public place" means an enclosed, indoor area where <br />individuals commingle to engage in commerce, recreation, <br />educational activities or transportation, and includes: <br /> <br />City Attorney/Third Draft/March 20, 1990 <br />