Individual violators will be fined $50 for the first offense; $200 for the second offense; and $300 for the third offense as well as a mandatory completion of tobacco prevention and/or cessation course.
Establishments, places of employment, including public places that fail to implement the commonwealth no-smoking policy will pay fines ranging from $200 to $500 and possible revocation of license.
Introduced by Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, and Vice Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, House Bill 16-47 is now Public Law 16-46.
The new law prohibits smoking in government facilities in all enclosed and outdoor areas within 25-ft. of any doorway entrance or exit. This includes public schools, office buildings, warehouses and government vehicles leased or owned.
Galleries, libraries, museums, educational, childcare and health care facilities, elevators, lobbies, hallways and other common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums, retirement facilities, nursing homes, and other multiple-unit residential facilities, are also covered by the new law.
Smoking is now also banned in all polling places, buses, taxicabs, restaurants, including attached bars, restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common-use areas.
Supermarkets, retail food outlets, department stores, rooms, places of meeting or public assembly and sports arenas are also included.
Smoking is likewise banned in places of employment in all enclosed facilities.
Exempted are bars, including open air bars, private residences, hotel and motel rooms, private and semiprivate rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities that are occupied by one or more persons, all of whom are smokers, outdoor areas of places of employment, casino gaming areas and fully enclosed and well-ventilated smoking areas at the departure terminal of all commonwealth airports.
