Posted on 09/14/2009 2:24:23 PM PDT by Drango
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. customers who smoke in an Avis or Budget rental car after Oct. 1 will be fined up to $250, the Avis Budget Group said.
The ban makes Avis and Budget the first major car rental companies to ban smoking in a North American fleet, USA Today reported Monday.
"The No. 1 request we get is for a smoke-free car," Avis Budget Group spokesman John Barrows said.
Avis and Budget cars will be inspected on return for the smell of smoke, Barrows said, adding it costs more to clean a smoky car because the car often has to be taken out of service longer.
Hertz lets customers request a smoke-free car but doesn't guarantee it, Hertz spokeswoman Paula Rivera said. Enterprise, Alamo and National have no "across-the-board" smoking ban but many of their locations restrict smoking, said Laura Bryant, a spokeswoman for parent company Enterprise Holdings.
They are private companies and you are technically borrowing their property, plus it costs them money for cleaning. I hate government dictated smoking bans, however, I have no problem with a private company regulating what happens on/in their private property.
Same goes for Marriott. They don't want my bucks? So be it.
My thoughts exactly.
No one is forcing you to rent from these companies; even if you do smoke, there is nothing preventing you from enjoying your cigarette before you get into the car.
Now, if there is a car company that wants to see how economically viable it is to rent cars where smoking is permited, more power to them.
I will, however, go with the no-smoking cars.
>>They are private companies and you are technically borrowing their property, plus it costs them money for cleaning. I hate government dictated smoking bans, however, I have no problem with a private company regulating what happens on/in their private property.<<
Yup. That aligns exactly with my core values.
The following cruise lines prohibit smoking not only in the majority of public areas but also in all their cabins (eliminating any possibility of residual odors), cabin balconies, and even outside public decks.
American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com): Small-ship line ACL is entirely smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited both indoors and on the outside decks.
Azamara Cruises (www.azamaracruises.com): Smoking is banned everywhere aboard Azamara’s two ships with the exception of two small areas: one indoors, in the aft port-side section of the Looking Glass Lounge, the other outdoors, in the starboard forward section of the Pool Deck. Azamara also follows a no-smoking policy on all land components of its cruisetours.
Oceania Cruises (www.oceaniacruises.com): As aboard Azamara (whose ships are more or less identical to Oceania’s), smoking is prohibited except in two areas: one indoors, in the aft port corner of Horizons observation lounge, and one outdoors, in the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck. Cigar and pipe smoking are only permitted in the latter.
Just give Obama more time..... MOO HAHA MOO HAA
Good Move.
Your Honor, that was not me standing on the toilet up next to the ceiling fan holding what looks like a lit cigarette
no sir, definitely wasnt me
The funny thing is that smokers will assert that smoking doesn’t stink???? From hotels to cruise lines, to rental cars, to real estate...The free market says they do!
Works for me. It’s a private company, and I have no problem with them pursuing that policy. If I want a rental I can smoke in, I’ll find another company (I don’t smoke, btw, I’m just sayin’).
I draw the line at them making me wear pants when driving, however.
a lot of new models don’t even come with lighters or ashtrays anymore
“The funny thing is that smokers will assert that smoking doesn’t stink???? “
Nope. Totally disagree with you.
I and many of my friends smoke and we KNOW it stinks.
That’s why I make it a point not to smoke in other peoples houses or cars, even if they give permission.
Hell, I’ve gotten into my own car more than a few times and noticed the stink.
And you can get the stink out if you clean it with the right stuff.
But I agree with the company setting a ‘no smoking’ policy, because it is their property and their right to do so.
I have no problem with them making their own rules but how does a private business “fine” someone? They should use another term, like “penalize” or something.
Marriott used to be my favorite place to stay, but now I don't even consider them because of this. It's their choice of course, I respect that... but I can choose too.
I guess now we can start getting rid of the pointless government smoking bans, right?
They shouldn’t be able to force you to wear pants. However if they put an extremely cold AC vent in the right spot...
Not to mention burns on the seats and carpets...
So old school...
$250 fine! Whohoo!!!!!!!! And a $250 fine for anyone breaking the speed limit! WhoHoo! And a $250 dollar fine for not filling up the gas tank on return! Whoohoo! And a $250 fine for eating in the vehicle! Whoohoo! And a $250 fine for talking on you cell phone or texting! Whoohoo!
Good for them, I hope they continue, and I hope you are the next person slammed with a fine! Whoohoo! Because I won't drive their crap cars.....WooHoo!
Better roll down the windows 20 miles before returning the car ...
Also, I bet the sale of Ozium goes up !!!
Have you tried an electronic cigarette? I smoked for 30 years and never thought I could quit. E-cigs are a wonderful alternative!
I don’t have that *cough* anymore and my new car is smoke stinky free.
Borrowing?...Last time I "borrowed" a RENTAL car, I PAYED rent. How about you?
I do agree it's their decision as far as the smoking crap, but please don't tell me I "borrowed" a car from them. "Borrow" doesn't cost $300, now does it?
FMCDH(BITS)
Those are ‘roach holes’. Don’t ask how I know..
“The ban makes Avis and Budget the first major car rental companies to ban smoking in a North American fleet, USA Today reported Monday.”
Well, there are few ways to look at this one...
I’ve not used Avis since back ‘round 73 when I did college interviews, so who cares? I have used Budget of late, since I last flew home from a consult and didn’t want to pull the wife an hour from home, but it was only a couple of bucks cheaper, so I’ll simply use neither and take my bucks elsewhere.
Or, as I’ve recently “discovered”, I could simply use the e-cig in the car, thus not be “smoking”, and thus accidently support their idiocy.
Lastly, I could use the e-cig and leave a s**t sandwich in the rear area on turn in. No charge for that, and I’d have expressed my opinion.
I’ll go with option one, but there are days...
They are private (as in non-government) owned businesses. The cars are their property. If they set up the Ts and Cs of the contract I sign to lease their vehicles any way they choose. If I don’t want to accept those Ts and Cs, I can either negotiate to change the Ts and Cs or go with a company that has different ones.
No analogy to a government ban.
And any FReeper who supports a government ban or government restrictions on this legal process should be zotted for supporting statism...not much difference between supporting smoking bans and restrictions and supporting single-payer health care or the “fairness” doctrine.
Now, if there is a car company that wants to see how economically viable it is to rent cars where smoking is permited, more power to them
__________________________________________________________
Gee imagine if that arguement was allowed in restaurants, bars, and hotels!!!
As a smoker, I’m surprised to learn that you could still rent a “smoking” car. I rent cars often for work and every one I’ve rented in the last few years has had “no smoking” placards in them. Since I don’t smoke in my own car, it never even dawned on me to try and request a “smoking” rental car.
It’s not about smoking. It’s about control.
Controlling what you eat and drink. Controlling your weight; controlling the news; controlling your salary; your healthcare; the kind of car you drive; how much you drive; how much electricity you use; controlling what you think, what you say, how you express yourself; watch what you say or you’ll lose your job; and it goes on and on.
The success of the anti-smoking campaign was just the start. It opened the flood gates.
OK by me. I think a private company has every right to set terms of how you damage their private property. Yes, damage. Smoke gets into the fabric and smells for a long time after the car is cleaned.
That said, I really feel sorry for smokers today. They are the new lepers. They are being mistreated horribly. The majority clearly tyranizing the minority. This is how it ends if we keep going down the road to a raw Democracy, rather than a Constitutional Republic.
Disclaimer: I love the smell of cigarette smoke outside, as long as I’m not sick.
Idiotic. They will lose business over this and well they should. I have always used Budget, but no more.
How so....Aren't most people non-smokers? Won't they GAIN business over this??
I have an Avis car this week and they have a sticker on the window about this.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/06/22/gps.airiq/index.html
(CNN) — An ordinary trip turned into an Orwellian ordeal for one Connecticut driver, forced to pay multiple fines after a car rental company tracked his every move via satellite.
James Turner of New Haven took Acme car rental company to court, calling the technology too intrusive. Acme countered that Turner knew the risks. Regardless, the litigation has such an unexpected high-tech spin that the state attorney general joined the legal fray.
When Turner needed a van to drive from New Haven to Virginia some months ago for business, he turned to a merchant near his home that he had relied on many times in the past.
But the theater box office manager overlooked a clause in the contract stating that its vehicles were equipped with a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and that going over the speed limit would cost $150 per infraction.
ALSO
How does GPS work? Click here for an interactive explainer
When he returned home and tried to use his ATM card, he discovered that the rental company had taken out $450 from his account. Acme Rent-A-Car had determined that he had gone over the speed limit three times and dipped into his account for each one.
“They took the money out before I returned the car,” Turner told CNN this week. “I was very, very surprised. I was not aware of what GPS could do. I thought it was an onboard navigation system, to use when you get lost.”
High-tech tracking
The van was outfitted with more than standard GPS technology. It had a much more sophisticated monitoring system, AirIQ, which allowed Acme to check Turner’s speed and location.
Turner hired a lawyer and went to small claims court, but Acme said Turner was well aware of the contract provisions.
“I don’t think it was too intrusive. The warning is printed in big bold letters on top of the contract, saying any sustained speeds over 79 mph would be subject to fines,” said Max Brunswick, Acme’s attorney.
“It’s not something that’s in the fine print. It’s explained to the customer and the customer has to initial it,” he said.
Bernadette Keyes, Turner’s counsel, countered that while some Acme customer contracts did include a specific speed limit, the one her client signed did not.
Making money or tracking cars?
Turner protested that the company had no system of due process by which he could challenge the charges. Brunswick said that for each infraction, the satellite system notified Acme only after Turner had gone over 80 mph for at least two minutes.
“The real purpose is not to make money from people speeding. The real reason is to track cars,” Brunswick said.
The monitoring system allows Acme to find cars that are not returned, a persistent problem that can drive small car rental companies out of business, he said.
Moreover, drivers knowing their speed is being checked tend to drive slower, leading to less liability for the company and fewer accidents for the drivers, according to Brunswick.
“It’s safe to say this policy saves lives,” he said.
The state has stepped in to help settle the legal morass, leaving the small claims case in limbo.
“The court is waiting for the consumer protection board and attorney general to make their ruling,” which could come within weeks, Turner said.
Yes, this is EXCELLENT! Most people speed, eat and talk on cell phones in their rental cars! Fine the socks of those people as well! I'm waiting for the day you pull your "smoke free" car into the airport and they slap your smug butt with a $250 fine......speeding! LOL! Have a nice drive in your "smoke free" rental car.....;)
You need to up your downers.
Not mine. I have rented from Budget for many years. Every time someone declares to not use a company, for whatever reason, that is a loss of business. For everyone that declares, figure a few that don’t declare.
It is a control thing, and people that support this kind of thing will sooner or later pay the price on something they do. I am not playing, and I have no respect for people that support this kind of control process. Next? Maybe your cheeseburger. Deal with it then.
LOL! I hope they start testing for dope before renting cars...... I will put my smokes in my pocket and drive off; all your prozac, zoloft, smoking nazi buddies will be standing and waiting on a cab......
It's only fair......
Haven't been on a commercial airplane or in a rental car since at least 1988.
In the old days of the smoking wars, you would beat us up fairly well. Smoking was allowed in the aircraft or in rows 1-6 or whatever. Sorta like peeing in one end of a swimming pool.
Today common sense prevails. Hotels, rental cars, cruise lines...The smoking wars are over.
Yep.
I use Ozium in the hotel rooms after having my smoke under the bathroom exhaust fan.
Of course, I always first try to search out hotels that still allow adults to enjoy a legal substance.
LOL!
How exactly does a private company fine a public citizen?
You never win battles of this sort, you only put off your turn in the barrel.
The smoking wars are over...A few death rattles but the wars are over.
“The smoking wars are over.”
Not quite. Seems there are still some wild and crazy folk who want the smoking of pot to be be legal and spread like a grass fire.
Guess the dangers of offensive smoke and lung disease just...(should I say it?)....go up in smoke in the minds of pot smokers.
I bet the 'but i dont smoke' defense aint worth much when your cc is already dinged...
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