Smoke Free Car with Minors - no smoking in a car if you have a minor!

I think this law is stupid because it is taking away people's freedom of choice. I am surprised they got away with passing this law. Next thing you know they will tell people they can't smoke in their own homes or their own yards. What happened to peoples freedom of choice? I am a smoker and I personally would not smoke in the presence of a minor so it wouldn't affect me anyways, but I don't think the law should have a say in this. If they want to ban smoking in so many places they may as well ban selling smokes. But of course they won't do that because then they would loose out on the millions of dollars they make every year on taxes. I am not saying this just because I smoke, so don't take it that way. I am saying this because this is supposed to be a free country and we are slowly losing our freedom. When we let our governments take over our lives in this way, this is no longer a democrate country. It is more like a communism country.

Everywhere should be smoke free for minors in my opinion, because minors have no authority to protect themselves. As adamantly as I am against people smoking around children or anywhere I have to deal with the residue in the air and obviously then on my clothing, skin, hair, etc., though, I would not go so far as to prohibit smokers from "using" in their own cars. It would be nice to keep people from doing it in rental cars, though. The most frightening thing about the smoking habit in my view is that studies have been done which show that over time nicotine addiction causes individuals to loosen their attachment to their own moral convictions. If people want to ruin their own health, that really is their own choice, but if, in doing so, they destroy their judgment, that is another thing. This kind of behavior puts society into a downward spiral. I think we all have a responsibility to act for the general good of society, although people have differing opinions as to what that might be. Substances abuse generally is about detaching oneself from social responsibility. Apparently nicotine is no exception. I wonder, though, whether the officer ticketing the smoker will also be prohibited from smoking while writing the citation. I sure hope so.

I am a smoker and I hate to see people smoking around children anyway but I think it looks awful when you see an adult puffing away in a vehicle with kids in it. Even though I smoke I don't like sitting in a smoky vehicle, so if I find it unpleasant how unpleasant must it be for a child? Some parents have no common sense unfortunately which is why laws like this one need to be introduced. I don't see it as an infringement or interference with parents rights. I see it as trying to force some sense of responsibility into their heads, although with many people that's a lost cause anyway!

I think they should be able to pull a car over for someone smoking in a car with a minor! As a parent, i think children should have a right to a smoke free envirnment! I think this law should be all across the US and CANADA. I wonder if this law has made it into canada yet, We usually follow suit or pioneer these health laws. It's just not fair to the kids to be smoking in the car with them in there..or in the house for that matter. They dont wanna get sick from second hand smoke. Nor do they want to smell like an ashtray! I smoked for 10 years, but as soon as i found out i was pregnant i quit and havent started up again since, nor do i plan to!

About time! I live in Australia and our anti-smoking laws are getting stronger but it's still not illegal to smoke in cars with kids. I have no idea why either. A while ago I saw a woman in a little car with all the windows up except hers was only wound half down. She was smoking and at first I thought 'gross her car and her clothes would be smelling really bad'. Then I looked in the back seat and there was a small boy in the back-about 4 years old. I was horrified. I felt so sorry for him. I felt like yelling out or beeping at her but I didn't want to start any trouble. So you can't smoke 3 metres away from building entrances but it's ok to smoke in a confined space with the windows up with a kid in there with you? Pfft. The law confuses me sometimes.

This law is in Australia as well, you cant smoke in the car if there's a child 16 years or under in there with you. I'm not really sure why it's taken so long since they have been pushing the fact that smoking is bad for you for so many years! I do have a feeling though, that an officer can pull you over if they catch you smoking & you'll receive an on the fine spot so i guess that's when they get you to butt out! We also have the no cell phones rule as well coz too many people get caught up in their chats or messages which causes accidents. You're right though, it's about time they did something for the health of minors who don't have a say in what their parents do in confined spaces!

very interesti ng

I think it's pretty sad that the government is now raising our children. And worse yet that they pass a law that says you can't smoke with a minor in a car, but we still give the parents free will to decline medical treatments for their children. Our fine tax dollars at work. btw - I'm not a smoker, and don't like people to smoke around me. But, I think we should all be allowed to raise our children as we see fit. What's next, telling parents they have to take their kids to church? And telling them what church to go to? There are plenty of other important issues out there that need our attention.

Is California that desperate for money that the cops will fine a person for doing something in there car that they do as well. Yes, I smoke in my truck. No, I don't smoke with my window all the way up that the cab fills with so much smoke I can't see to drive. Now I have seen that, when the lady got out, it looked like a scene from Cheech & Chong, but it was cigerette smoke. As a smoker myself I was like dang, how could she see to drive. I have my window down, and I don't throw my butts out the window either. My kids don't smell like smoke. I smoke outside my home. I think people need to lay off us smokers until there are harder laws against drinking. Never heard of someone being killed because of a smoking driver. During holidays, you won't see the police making a huge deal over smokers being able to get home ok.

California is very progressive and I think this a good idea. Minors, as someone else says, can't defend themselves or speak up (or be listened to if they do) against others poor behavior.

I'm not getting all this outrage over smoking in the last several years. I grew up in a family that smoked and my lungs are perfectly healthy. I don't have any problems due to so-called second hand smoke and even with my Hubby smoking it doesn't make me sick or anything. I can see ppl not wanting to be around smokers...great, that's a choice...but to ban it? Now, you can't smoke in the car if your kids are in it...are kids suddenly getting lung cancer b/c their suddenly around smoking? If it was that dangerous, enough to warrant a ban, why didn't all kids around when I was growing up end up with it? I think it's just another way for one group of ppl to try to control another. !!HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

Well, I know smokers are going to hate me for saying this, but it is about time! I have always felt bad for kids whenever I see them in a car and there are adults smoking in there with them. It just makes me sick! It's too bad though that the cops won't actually pull over cars when seeing people smoking while having minors in the car with them. They could really rack up the bucks with all the tickets they'd be writing out! :P

This is true. I, being a smoker myself, agree with the law 100%. Children shouldn't have to be effected by the second hand smoke. They have no choice in it at times though, so I think the law is absolutely wonderful. I'm in the process of quiting, for the 3rd time, but am sticking to it this time because i don't want my children seeing me do that and then me ask them not to in the future. Thanks for sharing and God bless

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