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CA: Snuffing out smoking in cars with children
Sacramento Bee ^ | August 14, 2006 | Jim Sanders

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 ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: 4moregovernment; 4thechildren; 4thecommongood; 4thestate; ab379; callegislation; cradletograve; govwatch; nannystate; paulkoretz; pufflist; smokingban
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To: mdmathis6

No, no, no! Any and all rules are waived for illegals. What were you thinking?


141 posted on 08/14/2006 4:40:27 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: calcowgirl
These are the same people who complain about their RIGHTS that WOT is taking from them.

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.

142 posted on 08/14/2006 5:00:13 PM PDT by yoe
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To: yoe
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.

143 posted on 08/14/2006 5:09:14 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: calcowgirl
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.

Does this mean you couldn't smoke if you had an adult dwarf in the car?

144 posted on 08/14/2006 5:11:58 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (I wish a political party would come along that thinks like I do.)
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To: CSM
Says the enemies of individual liberty, private property and personal responsibility.

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.

145 posted on 08/14/2006 5:36:33 PM PDT by lewislynn (Fairtax = lies, hope, wishful thinking, conjecture and lack of logic)
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To: Alouette
I am in favor of banning all smoking and all stinky air fresheners FROM MY OWN FREAKING CAR. Oh yeah, and farting too.

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.

146 posted on 08/14/2006 6:27:22 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: lewislynn
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 those children had any sense of "personal responsibility", they wouldn't get in their parents' car at all

Those things kill people.

147 posted on 08/14/2006 6:29:49 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: elkfersupper
If those children had any sense of "personal responsibility", they wouldn't get in their parents' car at all

Those things kill people.

Hopefully not the slow agonizing death like from smoking.

148 posted on 08/14/2006 6:34:47 PM PDT by lewislynn (Fairtax = lies, hope, wishful thinking, conjecture and lack of logic)
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To: lewislynn
Hopefully not the slow agonizing death like from smoking.

Show us a death certificate that lists smoking as the cause.

149 posted on 08/14/2006 6:36:28 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: elkfersupper

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.


150 posted on 08/14/2006 8:02:09 PM PDT by at bay ("We actually did an evil....." Eric Schmidt, CEO Google)
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To: Mears

bump


151 posted on 08/14/2006 8:39:13 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Mears; All

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.



152 posted on 08/14/2006 9:10:05 PM PDT by Anomaly in Illinois (Never Forget! ~~~~ Never Again!)
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To: HungarianGypsy
Here is one that would really drive you nuts. I know a guy who would make a big deal of hacking whenever he SAW a smoker. We were at the mall once and I had seen someone smoking across the food court. The person was behind him. I had noticed this for at least five minutes. It wasn't until the guy turned around to get up that he started hacking and coughing about the cigarette smoke. It really was irritating.

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

153 posted on 08/14/2006 9:50:49 PM PDT by beckysueb (KOmmies are really nothing but DUmmies with better PR.)
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To: Anomaly in Illinois

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.


154 posted on 08/14/2006 10:02:24 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Still Thinking
Yes, as they eagerly get in line to get retrained and compete to see who can be more politically correct.

Lets not forget begging their keepers to take more and more freedoms away to keep them safe! (from terrorists, cigarettes or whatever else)

Gag!

First they came for the smokers children but I didn't smoke, then they took away the fat (oh sorry weight challenged) children but mine were thin, then.....
155 posted on 08/14/2006 11:35:29 PM PDT by Anomaly in Illinois (Never Forget! ~~~~ Never Again!)
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To: Anomaly in Illinois
THEN you can't have that lawful *gun* in your home...

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)

156 posted on 08/15/2006 6:24:16 AM PDT by at bay ("We actually did an evil....." Eric Schmidt, CEO Google)
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