He could have told her to put the cig out just cause he wanted to and didn’t like the smoke. Regardless, his request was a legal, lawful order and she was required to comply. It isn’t a canard. It is the law.
Law, schmaw.
Sometimes, the law is an ass.
And, just because something's "the law" doesn't mean everybody is going to meekly submit to it.
It's the proliferation of so many ridiculous "laws" which has so many Americans scoffing at it nowadays...