NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Members of the New Orleans City Council and Public Health Advocates will be present on Friday, Jan. 30 as Mayor Mitch Landrieu signs the smoke-free ordinance.
The New Orleans City Council unanimously passed the ordinance last week, making it illegal to smoke in all ‘enclosed’ public spaces, including bars, casinos, and hotels.
Since the original vote, the ordinance has been amended in these ways:
- Taking out the ban on smoking at festivals and public parks
- Reducing the distance a smoker must stand outside businesses, which was originally 25-feet
- Including e-cigarettes in the ban
- New Orleans Police did not have to enforce the ban
Violators can be fined from $100 for a first offense, to $500 for a third.
The ordinance will go into effect 90 days after the mayor approves it.