(a) For the purposes of this section, “playground” means any park or outdoor recreational area specifically designed to be used by children that has play equipment installed or any similar facility located on public or private school grounds or county parks.
(b) Any hypodermic needle or syringe that is to be disposed of, shall be contained, treated, and disposed of, pursuant to Part 14 (commencing with Section 117600) of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) It is unlawful to discard or dispose of a hypodermic needle or syringe upon the grounds of a playground, beach, park, or any public or private elementary, vocational, junior high, or high school.
(d) A person who knowingly violates subdivision (c) is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) and not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for up to six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(e) Subdivision (c) does not apply to the containment, treatment, and disposal of medical sharps waste from medical care or first aid services rendered on school grounds, nor to the containment, treatment, and disposal of hypodermic needles or syringes used for instructional or educational purposes on school grounds.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 608, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2005.)