§ 11-19. Use of smoking materials in certain buildings within the city limits prohibited.

(1)

This section shall apply to the use of smoking materials inside or within twenty (20) feet of the entrance of any building or structure within the municipal limits of the city, which is owned, leased or otherwise used or occupied by the city or any of its various departments or offices, including but not limited to the following: city hall, building department, street and sanitation department, senior citizen center, multi-purpose center, Willie Green Center, Valdosta Community Center, library, police and fire stations.

(2)

For purposes of this section, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

(a)

"Smoking" shall mean the carrying, holding, possession or use of lighted smoking materials.

(b)

"Smoking materials" shall mean any material used for smoking, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes or any other tobacco product or substance used for the purpose of smoking.

(3)

Smoking shall be and is hereby unlawful and prohibited in all areas specified in subsection (1), unless otherwise provided herein.

(4)

The mayor shall direct appropriate city officials or employees to prominently post, in all buildings or structures subject to the terms of this section, the international "no smoking" symbol consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a bar across it. The sign shall be posted at all entrances of all buildings covered by this section. Other signs indicating the prohibition against smoking may also be posted as deemed appropriate, but in no case shall the lack of any of the signs provided for in this section be a defense to violation of this section.

(5)

Any person who smokes in an area where the same is prohibited by the terms of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor which shall be punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), plus court costs. Each separate instance of smoking shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. No. A-155, §§ 1—5, 11-23-98)

Editor's note

Ord. No. A-155, §§ 1—5, adopted Nov. 23, 1998, contained provisions that did not specifically amend the Code. At the editor's discretion, said provisions have been included as § 11-19.