Ga. Lawmakers Mull Smoking-In-Cars Law

Atlanta Journal-Constitution | 02-04-04

[thesearethetimes...]

Ga. Lawmakers Mull Smoking-In-Cars Law

ATLANTA (AP)--Georgia lawmakers are considering a first-in-the-nation law that would require drivers who smoke to roll down the windows before lighting up with children in the car.

The measure, approved 9-0 Wednesday by a state House committee, would impose a $15 fine.

Supporters say toddlers need legal protection from secondhand smoke. Opponents consider the measure intrusive.

The House narrowly approved the measure last year, but the Senate rejected the idea. The bill will not get a better reception this year, said Sen. Eric Johnson, a Senate leader.

``That's not to say that smoking in a car with small children isn't wrong. It's horribly wrong,'' he said. ``But if we're going to make everything bad for you illegal, and then fine you $15 for doing it, we could balance the budget just on that.''

No other state restricts smoking in private cars.

The bill would allow police to pull over motorists for smoking while driving with a child in a car safety seat, required in Georgia for youngsters under 4.

[thesearethetimes...]

Well, this is my first post : \ wish me luck and please be kind... I even remembered to do a search! This was in our local paper yesterday. Sitting at the table with Mr. thesearethetimes, we spotted it at the exact same moment - we're not smokers, but all I can say is, they will be coming after all of us sooner or later. ..it is just a matter of what for : |

[Izzy Dunne]

Well done, except I don't see a link to the article.

I'm all in favor of parents not smoking in a closed car with kids in it.
But is this really what we want our police to be doing???

[sopwith]

was posted yesterday.
sorry

[thesearethetimes...]

Oops!
I knew there was something missing. I gotta work on that.
Thank you for the reminder : )

[per loin]

I think it much more important for the government to proceed with its program of getting microphones installed in all homes so that the use of offensive language around children can be prevented.

[thesearethetimes...]

Drat...

definitely gonna have to learn to do a better search. Thanks tho.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Didn't see it yesterday, so thatnks for the post . . .

Can a ban on smoking in the home when children are present be far behind?

[Puppage]

But is this really what we want our police to be doing?

Just another excuse for the police to pull you over. How nice.

[Naspino]

I do hate pulling up behind a smoking car in traffic. Somehow smoking in a car makes the smell 10x more obnoxious.

[thesearethetimes...]

nah...free speech and all that ; }

[southernnorthcarolina]

I'd rather they pass a law saying smokers in cars must keep their windows up, so they can't throw their butts out the window. Why do so many smokers do that, anyway? Don't they have ashtrays?

[per loin]

All ashtrays in automobiles are designed by anti-smokers.

[thesearethetimes...]

Sure doesn't seem to be. A few years back I was going to do some volunteering at my little one's elementary school. There was a woman parked out on the street in front of the school, in her car, smoking. The vice-principal walked out and told her she had to stop - proximity to the school : \

[Liberal Classic]

Ping.

[Sunshine Sister]

Agreed. If the anti's were serious about this they would ban cigaretts and all smoking material. But they can't because smokers provide the state with a lot of money. So they just have to be satisfied with infringing on what little freedom we still have.