Sec. 13-4. - Smoking at public places.

(a)

Since smoking is a public nuisance and dangerous to public health, it shall be unlawful for any person to smoke in any form or otherwise use tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, or other forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, or the use of combustible cannabis, in any public buildings, public parks or any other indoor or outdoor recreational areas or facilities owned by the city or leased by the city as lessee, and in all motor vehicles of any type or kind owned, rented, leased or used by the city or any of its departments, boards, or commissions.

(b)

This smoking prohibition includes the confines of RIPTA bus shelters throughout the city and such shelters outside of senior centers or public squares.

(c)

This excludes public sidewalks, streets and leased properties in which the city is the lessor. In all properties leased from the city, lessee must provide for a separate area for smokers apart from other patrons, if smoking is allowed. If a smoking area is provided, the lessee is responsible to clean up the area of all litter, cigarette butts, etc. at the end of the event.

A violation of the provisions of this section shall be considered a public nuisance. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to immediate ejection from the area, punished by a fine not exceeding $50.00, and required to perform up to 20 hours of community service. Each violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ch. 713, § I, 6-19-18; Ch. 837, § I, 4-19-22)