§300.4. Smoking in motor vehicles prohibited; penalties

            A. It shall be unlawful for the operator or any passenger in a motor vehicle to smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or any vaping devices in a motor vehicle, passenger van, or pick-up truck, when a child who is required to be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat, a forward-facing child safety seat, a booster seat, or a motor vehicle's safety belt, as required in R.S. 32:295, is also present in such vehicle, regardless of whether windows of the motor vehicle are down. For purposes of this Section, the term "smoke" shall mean inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any activated aerosol or vapor or any lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, weed, plant, or other combustible substance in any manner or in any form.

            B. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined one hundred fifty dollars per offense, or at the discretion of the judge, may be sentenced to no less than twenty-four hours of community service.

            C. Probable cause for a violation of this Section shall be based solely upon a law enforcement officer's clear and unobstructed view of a person smoking as prohibited by this Section. Violation of this Section shall be considered a primary offense, and any law enforcement officer may stop a motor vehicle solely because of a violation of this Section; however, a law enforcement officer may not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of this Section.

            D. A violation of this Section shall be considered a nonmoving violation, and a citation issued by a law enforcement officer for such violation shall not be included on the driver's operating record.

            Acts 2006, No. 838, §1; Acts 2020, No. 65, §1.