South Pasadena Bans Smoking on All Public Sidewalks

Mission Street in South Pasadena (Photo – Umberto Brayj).

South Pasadena has been fairly smoke free for years. Recently, Council approved an amendment prohibiting smoking on any public sidewalk or walkway, or any parkway, curb or gutter.

By CP Wren

The latest amendment adds a few more requirements for business owners and overall, stiffens the intent to make all public places free of smoke from “tobacco, or any other weed or plant”:

• Fines for non-compliant businesses and rogue smokers will be assessed at no less than $100.
• Business owners failing to post the new mandated signs as specified will be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
• If you’re a smoker and you feel a need to light up, what the new law boils down to, is don’t do it anywhere that the public goes.
• If you do smoke in a “no smoking” area, you’ll be found guilty of an infraction, nailed with a fine and bail forfeiture of no less than $100.
• Compliance for businesses will require posting appropriate signage.

Additionally, the City-approved a new “No Smoking” sign template. Previously posted signs don’t have to come down, but the official new signage needs to go up as stipulated.

Business owners (including private, non-profit and public agencies–managers, commercial building management companies, etc.) are required to notify employees and building tenants about the new provisions of the law, request patrons who are smoking and in violation of the law to refrain from smoking, amongst other requirements.

> To report a violation, the public can call the South Pasadena Police Department at (626)403-7297.

CP Wren can be spotted pedaling the surrounds of South Pasadena on a grungy trail bike—often times headed towards Kaldi’s excellent caffeine, before catapulting into the beyond.