Politics & Government

How Will Smoking Ban Be Enforced?

The smoking ban is in effect, but that doesn't mean you'll receive a citation right away.

It's illegal to smoke or use tobacco products on the Gulfport Beach and various outdoor areas in the city. The citation carries a $143 fine for the Class III violation, according to Gulfport Police Chief Robert Vincent.

Because the ordinance is new and signs are not yet posted, Vincent says officers have been instructed not to enforce the ordinance until proper signs are installed.

Vincent explains that after signs are posted, there will be a 30-day warning period.

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After that, "Enforcement will be as it is with any other incident-based (as opposed to condition-based) ordinance violation."

"A citation issued for violation of this ordinance would be a Class III violation, which currently carries a $143 fine," according to Vincent.

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Chief Vincent adds that as of Thursday, he had not been asked to participate in any type of community education initiative.

Vincent explains the department's "unofficials prioritization" that applies to incident-based ordinance violations in his blog from August titled "On Discretion and Enforcement."


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