Smoking ban in cars

[Henia 11]

Driving along in my car this morning on a local news/political station I heard the issue of Bangor, Maine becoming the first US city to enforce a ban on adults smoking in cars (if children under the age of 18 are present) Violators will be fined 50 dollars. Currently, 14 states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, have already passed strong smoke-free air laws. And similar anti-smoking measures in Arkansas and Louisiana, but those target adults smoking in the presence of children under the age of six or eight. Also I have heard (and maybe living near there can validate this) that Boulder CO where you cannot smoke outside of the home, even in the backyard. (children presence or not)

The city council approved the controversial measure in a 6-3 vote last month, drawing a mixed response from residents, with some saying it infringes on individual freedom and others welcoming the move.

I am not a smoker myself,(but have smoked in the past) but given that so many children now-a-days smoke as young as 12, I wonder how this ban is going to really the problem of under-age smokering and cigarette addiction or would it be okay in Maine to smoke in a car if your kid was smoking too? Why are democracies so increasingly under the thrall of control? And will community planning to ban smoking in your own home next? Is it cos we have stopped using commone sense that Big Brother now feels the need to step? When did we actually stop using common sense?

There have been rumblings for a while from groups interested in child health issues, to make it law across the board, that smoking with a child in an enclosed space would be considered endangerment, and even abuse. I understand the child safety stand point of it. I know several health issues can arise from second-hand smoke (known cause of various cancers, heart disease, SIDS, lchronic ear infections, bronchitis ower respiratory tract infections, etc) and not to mention the hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. So I do (in my opinion frown upon smoking second hand smoking (esp in front of children).

I am thrilled that they're starting to enforce some parental responsbility. But not so thrilled that people are not using common sense and thinking. This is far from the first regulation ever written that demands certain behavior from parents in regards to their children's safety and health. The government tells you many things you cannot do in your own car, ESP when it comes to child safety. You cannt be unbuckled, let your kids be unbuckled, cannt drink, cannot be reading, cannt be eating if it inhibits your driving,etc ..... But again who does these things? I mean yea sure we may slip up and do them by accident but who intentionally does these things on a regular basis? Esp with children in the car....child endangerment. Even this has nothing to do with the topic, but why dont parents pay attention to their children? I have seen children hanging out form windws while the parents is talking away on the mobile. And when I see this in the market, I really get annoyed. Bad ppl around waiting to take your children, that **** mobile is more important

But still I wonder are right being vilotated here? Where did personal freedom go? An how do they plan to enforce this car rule anyway? Does the police in Maine not have criminals to chase? Will this lead to bans in the home too?

I am really not sure where I stand on this. (Not even that my opinion counts... I cannot vote yet anyway) I agree smoking and second hand smoking is bad, esp in front of children but I still think our personal right should not be violated. In the end I think this is an issue that should be resolved by using common sense and the adults in question. If someone does not like the smoke they can ask the smoker not to do so or to open the window or they can leave the car or eject the offender from the car if it is their car and the refuse to stop. Kids however donnot have much choice, especially if it their parents doing the smoking. But do we all not love our children that we could stand to wait to smoke that cig until after we drop the children off their soccer practice or stop for a short break (where the adult gets out the car to smoke, instead of in that closed up car?) There is bad driver's tax here in MI... sometimes I wish there were a bad parenting tax too... (but let me shut my mouth cos that again could be a personal rights violation. I really would be all for a parenting class for parenting (for befre the baby is born) ...just like driving school parenting school... where issues like would be addressed.

Link: Smoking ban

[Robor007 0]

I'm all for it. I still remember when I was younger and riding in my parents care with one/both of them smoking. It was miserable. I'm glad I never picked up the habit. Glad my dad dropped it too. Wish my mom would but despite having bronchitis, emphysema, and frequent trips to the doctor for breathing problems she continues to smoke.

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

[Savanphil 3]

I wonder how they would enforce it here in Philly....they can't even get people to wear seatbelts

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

ted bundy had the right to smoke

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Also I have heard (and maybe living near there can validate this) that Boulder CO where you cannot smoke outside of the home, even in the backyard. (children presence or not)

Yeah, this would be the most pathetic attempt to save people from second-hand smoke. #######? Can't smoke in your yard so you better head indoors and stink up your home - kids in there or not. And the smoke you create inside thast home is eventually going where? What a crock!

[Henia 11]

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

Hmmm... you are right. But we have to right to choice to smoke. But still I donnot agree with smoking front of children or even others who donnot smoke.

[Henia 11]

Also I have heard (and maybe living near there can validate this) that Boulder CO where you cannot smoke outside of the home, even in the backyard. (children presence or not)

Yeah, this would be the most pathetic attempt to save people from second-hand smoke. #######? Can't smoke in your yard so you better head indoors and stink up your home - kids in there or not. And the smoke you create inside thast home is eventually going where? What a crock!

I do agree with you on this one. Outside is alot of air and what is alittle cig smoke when car give off smoke too? I think second hand smoke i sharmful where the area is closed off from air cicrulation... no?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Also I have heard (and maybe living near there can validate this) that Boulder CO where you cannot smoke outside of the home, even in the backyard. (children presence or not)

Yeah, this would be the most pathetic attempt to save people from second-hand smoke. #######? Can't smoke in your yard so you better head indoors and stink up your home - kids in there or not. And the smoke you create inside thast home is eventually going where? What a crock!

The problem is the second-hand smoke, which is more harmful to the non-smokers than to the smoker. The studies done on the harmful consequences of those exposed to second-hand smoke is staggering. How do you protect the rights of young children whose parents smoke?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

There's no such thing as a right to stink up the air with your vehicle either and yet nobody is talking about the fcuking pollution that's created through them tailpipes. And just that part of the pollution by combustion engines which is created needlessly in a day is much worse, I'd think, then what cigarette smokers are ever going to release into the atmosphere over the course of a decade.

Don't get me wrong: I gave up on them cigarettes almost two years ago after having been hooked on them for the better part of 20 years. I like the fact that the vast majority of restaurants here in FL are non-smoking now. I can appreciate (and have even when I was on the other side) the public efforts to ban smoking from public places. But every now and then, I think we're taking it just a step too far.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Also I have heard (and maybe living near there can validate this) that Boulder CO where you cannot smoke outside of the home, even in the backyard. (children presence or not)

Yeah, this would be the most pathetic attempt to save people from second-hand smoke. #######? Can't smoke in your yard so you better head indoors and stink up your home - kids in there or not. And the smoke you create inside thast home is eventually going where? What a crock!

The problem is the second-hand smoke, which is more harmful to the non-smokers than to the smoker. The studies done on the harmful consequences of those exposed to second-hand smoke is staggering. How do you protect the rights of young children whose parents smoke?

Okay, let me try again: My mother, for example, is a smoker. When she visits, she goes outside of my home to light up. I am not going to have cigarette smoke in the house with the baby inside. Now, if I lived in a jurisdiction where my mother wasn't allowed to smoke outside my home, then she'd kind of be forced to smoke inside the house. What precisely would that accomplish and who precisely would that protect?

[Henia 11]

I think if new laws come about making smokers smoke only inside the home, then air purifier manufacturers are going to make a killing.

BTW ET-US2004: You daughter is a angel...

[sophyie 0]

I think the only "smoking- regulating" law that would make sense would be a law that forbids people to smoke around children and while being pregnant.

Sadly enough- but there still are a lot of mothers and fathers who do not realize just HOW harmful it is.

IMO, what makes it worse (and maybe worth a law) is that kids don't have the choice if their parents/or any other adults smoke around them.

Grown ups can either walk away or tell the other person to stop smoking if they're bothered by secondhand smoke.

I've worked in a couple of bars in Germany (smoking in bars and restaurants still widely accepted) and it almost made me puke seeing young mothers holding their new born babies in their one arm smoking a cigarette with the other hand.

ETA: don't get me wrong, I think everyone has the choice to harm himself the way they want- just don't harm others.

Edited January 19, 2007 by sophyie

[Robor007 0]

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

There's no such thing as a right to stink up the air with your vehicle either and yet nobody is talking about the fcuking pollution that's created through them tailpipes. And just that part of the pollution by combustion engines which is created needlessly in a day is much worse, I'd think, then what cigarette smokers are ever going to release into the atmosphere over the course of a decade.

Don't get me wrong: I gave up on them cigarettes almost two years ago after having been hooked on them for the better part of 20 years. I like the fact that the vast majority of restaurants here in FL are non-smoking now. I can appreciate (and have even when I was on the other side) the public efforts to ban smoking from public places. But every now and then, I think we're taking it just a step too far.

Actually, I have a FL drivers license that gives me privilege to drive my car on the road.

I agree that our vehicles are a major source of pollution but for most of us they aren't needless. I need my car to get to work. If you can come up with another way I'm all ears. I've been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic due to accidents 2x this week on the way to work and I welcome a better way.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I own my car and the air in it... if I choose to smoke in my car that is my choice.. whould I do it with my Grandchildren in the car..... NO

On that happy note I am off to stand outside my office building (in the freezing cold) in the designated smoking space and smoke...

Kez

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

FYI - There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

There's no such thing as a right to stink up the air with your vehicle either and yet nobody is talking about the fcuking pollution that's created through them tailpipes. And just that part of the pollution by combustion engines which is created needlessly in a day is much worse, I'd think, then what cigarette smokers are ever going to release into the atmosphere over the course of a decade.

Don't get me wrong: I gave up on them cigarettes almost two years ago after having been hooked on them for the better part of 20 years. I like the fact that the vast majority of restaurants here in FL are non-smoking now. I can appreciate (and have even when I was on the other side) the public efforts to ban smoking from public places. But every now and then, I think we're taking it just a step too far.

Actually, I have a FL drivers license that gives me privilege to drive my car on the road.

A privilege is not a right, though.

I agree that our vehicles are a major source of pollution but for most of us they aren't needless. I need my car to get to work. If you can come up with another way I'm all ears. I've been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic due to accidents 2x this week on the way to work and I welcome a better way.

When I see people driving their gaz guzzlers to work, I'm sorry, there's needless pollution. There's no need to burn a gallon of gas every 10 - 15 miles to get a peron from one point to another. That's what we're doing on America's streets, however. And that is needless pollution any way you slice it.