Tobacco and schools
The South Bend Tribune carries an piece titled, “Where there’s smoke (and school) there’s a law.”
Did you know it is against the law for a tobacco business to operate within 200 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school?
So what defines a tobacco business, and where is the measurement taken from?
According to Indiana law, “if a business’ primary activity is the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco accessories, that business shall be defined as a tobacco business.” The distance between a tobacco business and a school is determined by measuring the nearest point of the premises occupied by the tobacco business and the nearest point of the building used by the school for instructional purposes.
There are no ifs, ands, or “butts” about it, schools want kids to be tobacco-free.
State law prohibits anyone less than 18 from possessing tobacco products or entering a tobacco business. Hey kids, either way you look at it, your money is “going up in smoke”; pay for the smokes, then pay the ticket! Remember, you will also have to “spit out some cash” if you’re caught with chewing tobacco!
The statute in question can be found at Ind Code 35-46-1.
