AP Wire

Stop ticketing lemonade stands, La. senators say

by The Associated Press

Louisiana's state senators voted 37-0 for a bill that would exempt minors engaging in sales of less than $500 a year from having to pay an occupational license tax.

Photo by Fiarwalloe 2015/Wikimedia

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Looking for someone to ticket? Louisiana legislators say to steer clear of neighborhood children selling lemonade.

Louisiana's state senators came down squarely on the side of the local lemonade stand Wednesday, voting 37-0 for a bill that would exempt minors engaging in sales of less than $500 a year from having to pay an occupational license tax.

Sen. Gary Smith, a Norco Democrat, says he introduced the proposal after municipal officials have written tickets to children for not having an occupational license to sell the lemonade.

Senators were stunned with the ticket news.

Sen. Norby Chabert, a Houma Republican, simply asked Smith: "Are you serious?" Chabert then urged local officials to use more common sense.

Smith's bill goes next to the House for consideration.