Local News in Brief : LOCAL LAWS of 1987 : Los Angeles County

Among the strongest images of the year in Los Angeles County were those of furious smokers temporarily banned from Beverly Hills restaurants and a would-be gunman holding what turned out to be a toy gun on consumer reporter David Horowitz during a live broadcast. Both incidents spawned action by local authorities. Here’s a sampling of what local legislative boards decided during 1987.

JURY--In August, the county’s pay to jurors in municipal and superior courts was reduced from $10 to $5.

SMOKE--Restaurants as of August are required to have sections for non-smoking patrons.

TOY GUNS--Supervisors made it a misdemeanor as of September to brandish or use a replica firearm or simulate a firearm in an assaultive or threatening manner.

RESTROOMS--The county required new filling stations along the freeways to provide restroom facilities for customers, as of September.

MARRIAGE--In October, the fee for marriage licenses issued after 5 p.m. went from $35 to $40.

LIABILITY--Supervisors in October established the liability of persons involved in alcohol- or drug-related accidents involving automobiles, boats and airplanes for the emergency equipment expenses and authorized agencies to recover such costs. Liability is limited to $1,000 per accident.

DOGS--Animals could be seized after the first biting incident, under action approved in November.

TAXIS--Supervisors set a minimum liability insurance requirement for taxicab operators beginning in December.

VENDORS--Peddlers of edible products were barred from selling near schools beginning in December.

Compiling these laws were Times staff writers Greg Braxton, Gary Gorman, Scott Harris, Roxanna Kopetman, Julio Moran, Victor Merina, Mike Ward, and researcher Cecilia Rasmussen.