Calif. Bill Would Ban Smoking in Car with Kids

Reuters ^ | April 28, 2004 | Reuters

[DumpsterDiver]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California could be on its way to becoming the first U.S. state to outlaw smoking in cars or trucks that have children inside.

A bill is being considered in the state Assembly to allow police to stop vehicles if a minor appears to be exposed to smoke from a pipe, cigar, cigarette, or "any other plant."

The bill has the support of the American Lung Association, which points to research showing secondhand smoke can cause cancer, respiratory infections and asthma.

Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, a Democrat and author of the bill, has referred to a survey by state health officials that found 29 percent of youth in the state had been exposed to secondhand smoke in the prior week.

Opponents say the bill, which last week passed in the Transportation Committee and now heads to the Appropriations Committee, not only encroaches on Constitutional freedoms but demonstrates the intentions of some politicians to eventually ban smoking everywhere in California.

"If the ultimate goal is to ban smoking, then have the courage to come up and say that," said Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, a Republican in the Democratic-dominated legislative body.

"Show me good science that shows that secondhand smoke is a problem. I don't know that they've proved that," Mountjoy added.

California in 1995 became the first state in the nation to ban smoking in virtually all workplaces, said Paul Knepprath, the vice president of government relations at the American Lung Association of California.

No other state has instituted a sweeping ban on smoking in cars with children present, Knepprath said.

[Gabz]

The bill has the support of the American Lung Association, which points to research showing secondhand smoke can cause cancer, respiratory infections and asthma.

I would love to see that research.

I can't believe they are still spewing out the old lie about SHS CAUSING asthma.

I really don't understand how they can get away with retelling the same old liew time after time after time.........oh, I forgot they've got the lamestream media so brainwashed they will believe anything and the sheeple follow along blindly.

[SheLion]

If this bill ever passes I would suggest that children ride in the trunk. Or just strap 'em to the hood of the car.

I swear Maine and California are joined at the hip, even though there are 3,000 miles between us!

There goes foster care for the poor kids who need a home! Oh well. Let the LAWMAKERS in Maine take them in! heh!

Maine:DHS creates smoking rules for foster homes, vehicles

[SheLion]

If this bill ever passes I would suggest that children ride in the trunk. Or just strap 'em to the hood of the car.

I'm starting to believe there is more to this then just smoking around kids.  Think about this:  Use the smoking issue and kids as a way of birth control.  The state tells you how to raise the kids, so people decide they WANT no kids.

Bring in all the immigrants with "their" kids.  Slowly, America is becoming something that I do not recognize anymore.  You?

If this bill ever passes I would suggest that children ride in the trunk. Or just strap 'em to the hood of the car.

I'm starting to believe there is more to this then just smoking around kids.  Think about this:  Use the smoking issue and kids as a way of birth control.  The state tells you how to raise the kids, so people decide they WANT no kids.

Bring in all the immigrants with "their" kids.  Slowly, America is becoming something that I do not recognize anymore.  You?

[DumpsterDiver]

I'm starting to believe there is more to this then just smoking around kids.

Politicians love it because they can gain revenue by heavily taxing an item that most people don't use nor like. A lot of voters don't care as long as their "vice" isn't the one being taxed. The neurotic control freaks just like putting the screws to people.

Think about this: Use the smoking issue and kids as a way of birth control. The state tells you how to raise the kids, so people decide they WANT no kids. Bring in all the immigrants with "their" kids.

Could be. They'd be a lot more docile than homegrown Americans.

Slowly, America is becoming something that I do not recognize anymore.

I don't recognize it either and the pace seems to be picking up.

[Sunshine Sister]

It was in the news earlier this week that the Kansas legislature is wringing their hands because the tax income from cigarette sales was WAY down. Imagine that. They want the people to quit smoking so they raise the tax and when smokers quit they whine because taxes are down. Are their colors showing or what?

[Gabz]

Are their colors showing or what?

Loud and clear.

[MeekOneGOP]

[Sunshine Sister]

It's enough to make a person giggle!

[Gabz]

I have a hard time giggling while being demonized and denormalized and forced to pay for it through extortiate taxes.

[The Mayor]

they want to do the same thing here in New York

[netmilsmom]

I have to chime in with a story, that I cannot tell without breaking into laughter.

I had a very nice friend who had deep blue eyes with nothing behind them, if you get my drift. (no she wasn't blonde but should have been). Her parents would smoke pot in the car with their kids in the back all the time (this girl remember this from preschool).
One day, after a pot filled ride to the store, they left these girls (6 & 8) in the car while they ran in. It was the 70's and lots of people did that. The older girl pushed in the cigarette lighter. When it popped out, she told my friend, "Here, smell this."
Needless to say when the parents got back to the car, my friend had a circular blister on the end of her nose and was screaming like a stuck pig.

The parents detested people who smoked cigarettes...

[Sunshine Sister]

I fully understand how you feel. I don't smoke so the government has not gotten a dime in tax from me for cigarettes. I do enjoy a glass of wine however and that is the next thing to be taxed after cigarettes. I have called my senator and house rep more than once to suggest that sin taxes are high enough now. How about we have a tax on self righteous legislators?

[DumpsterDiver]

she told my friend, "Here, smell this."

NEVER fall for that line!

(Hey, pull my finger.)

[familyofman]

Why not ban driving with children in a car. Exhaust fumes are much more a health thtreat than cigarette smoke. If we want to 'protect' our children & the children of others (and the world) we should prohibit the use of the internal combustion engine any where/any time.

[SheLion]

I don't recognize it either and the pace seems to be picking up.

It's frightening, DD...............

[Gabz]

VEry funny story.

The parents detested people who smoked cigarettes...

I've known a lot of heavy pot smokers with the same attitude.

[SheLion]

You know? I have been trying to think who this kid looks like.............I think he looks like Winston Churchill when he was a kid. LOL!

[Gabz]

I pay as little to the government as possible in cigarette taxes by making my own (loose tobacco is taxed less than cigarettes) and I also hate the taxes on ber and wine.

I like your idea of taxing self-righteous legislators.....and they should have to pay a tax on every campaign sign and ad they have!!!!

[-YYZ-]

24 hours? Ooookay.

Nice picture, too. Looks like a convertible with no rollover protection filled with kids and an adult none of whom are wearing a seatbelt.

[Sunshine Sister]

How about a tax on every bill that is introduced in every legislature across the US. I bet the pace of new law would be curtailed a lot!