A new state law took effect on Jan. 1 that bans smoking within 25 feet of a public entrance at all state office buildings, but St. Charles Parish has had a more stringent smoking law on the books since 1988.
In St. Charles Parish, smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of any exterior door of parish-owned buildings. These include the courthouse, libraries, St. Charles Parish Hospital and even waterworks and sewerage offices.
Violating the smoking ban could lead to fines.
The parish ban appears to work, according to Phil Dufrene, government buildings director for St. Charles Parish. Dufrene said that he has received very few smoking-related complaints during his two-year tenure and does not consider smoking near courthouse entrances a major concern.
Several residents who answered a question posed on Facebook about the smoking ban are in favor of it.
“I love it. I don’t like when smoke is blown in my face or my children’s when going into or coming out of a business,” Chelsea Sassin said.
Brittany Ecuyter said she wants the ban at every building in St. Charles Parish, saying that she can’t stand walking out of a store and breathing in smoke.
Melissa Hihar agrees with the ban, but said that a covered smoking area with ashtrays should be provided for government workers.
“As long as smoking is legal, and smokers are a protected class under Louisiana law, provisions should be made to accommodate them,” she said.
Parish spokeswoman Renee Simpson said the parish does have ashtrays outside of the courthouse, but there are no designated smoking areas.
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