Posted on 08/14/2006 7:32:01 AM PDT by calcowgirl
Targeting a new frontier in the fight against smoking, California lawmakers may ban motorists from lighting up near young passengers.
The measure would mark the first time that Californians would be prohibited from smoking legal tobacco products on private property not open to the public or employees.
No state had passed such a vehicle smoking ban until this year, when Arkansas and Louisiana set a precedent by barring the practice when passengers are under 6 or 13, respectively.
Assemblyman Paul Koretz, a West Hollywood Democrat who proposed California's ban, Assembly Bill 379, said some parents don't seem to know -- or care -- about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
"If you're too stupid to recognize that on your own, then we have to pass a law to tell you, 'Don't be an idiot, don't smoke with your small kid in the car with you,' " Koretz said.
AB 379 makes no exception for vehicles whose windows are open to increase ventilation. It applies to motorists whose passengers are younger than 6 or lighter than 60 pounds.
Violators would be subject to a base fine of up to $100, which could rise to more than $350 through penalty assessments for courts, jails, trauma centers and other programs.
Opponents call AB 379 another example of "nanny government" in which lawmakers intrude into private lives or property rights.
"I think we try to micromanage people's lives to an extent that's getting ridiculous, whether it's health or dietary or lifestyle decisions," said Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg.
Canciamilla predicted that if AB 379 succeeds in limiting smoking in vehicles, other private property will be targeted next.
"The argument would be the same: Why would you let someone smoke in a car with children present? Then, why in an apartment? Or a house?"
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
No, no, no! Any and all rules are waived for illegals. What were you thinking?
Who has the cartoon of two women are complaining about how strict Islamic law is and how awful it must be to live under them. When a man at the next table (they are outside) lights up a cigarette - both women turn a scream "Excuse Me? This is a no-smoking city!" California is becoming the Naggers Inc. state of the USA. Rights? We lose them every day to meddlesome people like these.
Rights? No right is so sacred that we musn't sacrifice them "for the children."
I used to think Americans were too smart to fall for this.
I don't now.
Does this mean you couldn't smoke if you had an adult dwarf in the car?
Right, the "individual liberty" of the smoker is paramount to a childs "individual liberty" to not have to breathe the smoke of the one with all that "personal responsibility"...
If those children had any sense of "personal responsibility" they wouldn't get in their parents smoke filled car or ask their mommy and daddy to give up their "individual liberty" to smoke during a 20 minute drive to school or dance or soccer.
If you live in a community property state (and I'm guessing that you do), and you're married, it ain't your car, sister.
If those children had any sense of "personal responsibility", they wouldn't get in their parents' car at all
Those things kill people.
Those things kill people.
Hopefully not the slow agonizing death like from smoking.
Show us a death certificate that lists smoking as the cause.
You want somethin to cry about? I'll give you something to cry about, I'll ban cigarettes if you'll let me.
--your current surgeon general, Dr. Goodguy, appointed by an honorable and decent man, George Bush.
bump
hmmmm.... first you can't smoke your legal cigarette in the private property of your car (for the children of course) THEN you can't smoke your legal cigarette in the private property of your home (for the children of course) THEN you can't have that lawful *gun* in your home (it's for the children of course)
This is not the future I want to hand down to my children.
I got one even better. I had one of those fake cigarettes; like the ones that are supposed to help you quit; and some woman about 50 feet away had a coughing, hand waving fit. LOL
Exactly. I find creeping wussification and unthinking obedience to elected "masters" a FAR greater threat to the future of children than a little cigarette smoke once in a while, and I don't even smoke.
Funny thing, tho', as another thoughtful poster pointed out, gun rights have been greatly EXPANDED in this country as a whole in the last couple of decades. Mandatory issue right to carry concealed weapons (the presumption, unless proved otherwise is that you have a right to have such a permit) are now being issued by the millions each year.
So the slippery slope is really the slippery, blowing smoke, trying to come up with a reason to justify their continued misbehavior around others.
And as the elected leader pointed out, we wouldn't need such laws if so many smokers were not such complete morons/idiots/slobs.
your pal,
Smokey the bear
(hurl the insults at Smokey, please, I am just the conduit to allow him to speak--At Bay)
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