§ 130A-493. Smoking prohibited in State government buildings and State vehicles.
§ 130A‑493. Smokingprohibited in State government buildings and State vehicles.
(a) NotwithstandingArticle 64 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes pertaining to State‑controlledbuildings, smoking is prohibited inside State government buildings except asprovided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Smoking ispermitted inside State government buildings that are used for medical orscientific research to the extent that smoking is an integral part of theresearch. Smoking permitted under this subsection shall be confined to the areawhere the research is being conducted.
(c) The individual incharge of the State government building or the individual's designee shall postsigns in conspicuous areas of the building. The signs shall state that"smoking is prohibited" and may include the international "NoSmoking" symbol, which consists of a pictorial representation of a burningcigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it. In addition, theindividual in charge of the building or the individual's designee shall:
(1) Direct a person whois smoking inside the building to extinguish the lighted smoking product.
(2) In a Statepsychiatric hospital, provide written notice to individuals upon admittancethat smoking is prohibited inside the building and obtain the signature of theindividual or the individual's representative acknowledging receipt of thenotice.
(c1) Smoking isprohibited inside State vehicles. The individual or the individual's designeein charge of assigning the vehicle shall place one or more signs in conspicuousareas of the vehicle. The signs shall state that "smoking isprohibited" and may include the international "No Smoking"symbol, which consists of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosedin a red circle with a red bar across it. If the vehicle is used for undercoverlaw enforcement operations, a sign is not required to be placed in the vehicleas provided in this subsection.
(d) NotwithstandingG.S. 130A‑25, a violation of Article 23 of this Chapter shall not bepunishable as a criminal violation. (2007‑193, s. 1; 2007‑459, s. 4.1; 2008‑149,s. 3; 2009‑27, s. 1.)