Can-o-worms + opener =

[sestree]

Like I could pass THIS one up?



SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California motorists will risk fines of up to $100 next year if they are caught smoking in cars with minors, making their state the third to protect children in vehicles from secondhand smoke.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed a bill that will make it an infraction to smoke in a vehicle if someone under age 18 is present. But the traffic stop would have to be made for another offense, such as speeding or an illegal turn, before the driver could be cited for smoking.

The ban, which takes effect Jan. 1, joins a string of smoking prohibitions adopted in California, including a ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and within 25 feet of a playground.

A Harvard School of Public Health report issued last year said secondhand smoke in cars can be up to 10 times more of a health risk than secondhand smoke in a home.

"Protecting the health of our children is among government's highest responsibilities," said the bill's author, state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat. "It is clear that increasing public awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke is the right thing to do."

At least 20 states and a number of municipalities have considered limiting smoking in cars where minors are present. Arkansas now bans smoking in cars with children age 6 and younger, while Louisiana has limited it when children 13 and younger are in the vehicle. Maine lawmakers will take up the issue in January.



Since this does not directly apply to me anymore I hesitate to voice an opinion. I will say the 'previous' smoker in me cried FOUL and of course I have to wonder if this will make road rage any worse (I killed him because I wanted a cigarette but I'm taking the cub scout to a den meeting?). I also have major issues with our civil liberties (if I'm addressing the right arena) being infringed upon.

Thoughts? Anyone?

Comments

[madam-macaw.livejournal.com]

I personally don't smoke in the car with the kids, or the house for that matter. Even if I am driving, if there is a non-smoker, I ask them if it bothers them. Course, if it is a long road trip, your ass might be in the trunk. Teehee

I only have a few more weeks, then it is lights out for me too.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

I smoked with my kids in the car - I always had the window open though (not all the way) and usually had the cigarette up against the window.

It's still wasn't the best alternative.

Good on you ! I still say quitting was one of the hardest things I've done but it's also one of the best decisions I ever made.

[madam-macaw.livejournal.com]

I am starting Chantrix and plan on the beginning of November as my quit date.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

I think that there is a town in Maine where the police can stop you solely because you are smoking in a car with a minor. There's an effective use of police time!

I also read the other day that someplace in California is making it illegal to smoke in your own condo or apartment.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

I had heard some of that as well as the couple who couldn't smoke in their own home by judges order.

This just struck me at this moment: with all the problems we currently are facing in America, can't we find better ways to spend our tax $$$$$?

You said it There's an effective use of police time!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

I love how the gov't is trying to "stop" people from smoking and yet, at the same time, cries when they realize it's working and now they don't have the money from the cigerette taxes to pay for all the (useless) programs they want. (Which is what happened last week with the children's health bill. It's being paid for from cigerette taxes. Less smokers=less money. Of course, the gov't doesn't comprehend this)

And no, I don't smoke. I put the anti-smoking laws in the same catagory as all the helmet laws and seatbelt laws...the "idiot laws". The problem with them is very simple, it's forcing people to protect themselves...and the gov't is not mom.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

Actually I'm a big fan out of using $$$ as a deterrent against most things. I didn't have (and still don't) any issues with taxing the crapola out of smokes. When I started smoking I could purchase them for 75 cents - yep 3 quarters. Trust me I would NOT have started had they been 3 dollars.

By comparison, a can of coke out of the vending machine was 50 cents then as well.

I do have issues with the government over-policing what we do and when we do it. I never understood helmet laws. I do support seatbelt laws for children - because if they could make good decisions as minors they'd be able to vote heh

[tankay.livejournal.com]

I understand some of the laws. I think it's sad that people don't use their own common sense about what they do. Whether I smoke or not is my choice. As far as imposing it on others in public: I do not unless I am in a place that is designated for smoking. In my own house, it's my choice. Happy Tuesday!