No smoking: There's kids in the car!
Our breaking news blog has a story up about Sen. Mike Lenett's bill to ban smoking in the car when kids are present, the kind of bill that causes many to scratch their heads at the prospect of a nanny state gone amok. Though it's certainly true that Annapolis appears to have a great interest this year in regulating what you do in your car (texting, talking on your cell phone, whatever it was John Leopold was up to...) it's worth mentioning that Lenett has introduced this bill twice before and has seen it get killed both times in the Senate Finance Committee. This year, he did get a member of the House to cross-file the bill, but still, the list of sponsors of this one hasn't changed much. The bill has a hearing today, but that shouldn't be taken to mean it's got a good shot. It can still get killed.
Here are a few fun facts from the legislative analysis: California and Bangor, Maine, currently prohibit smoking in the car when any minors are present. (Lenett's bill would only apply to kids younger than eight.) Arkansas and Louisiana (believe it or not) have similar laws.
Comments
Too bad for you Jimmy you just turned 8 so now I can smoke in the car.
Do these people have nothing else to do in the GA?
Posted by: AnotherWatcher | March 10, 2009 11:02 AM
There's the budget, slots mess, electrical rates out of whack....
naw nothing better to do!
I don't know what's worse
the agenda in Annapolis or
reporters like you sir who don't even bother asking the right questions, just cheerlead right along with Annapolis and whatever the boy king wants!
Posted by: jay | March 10, 2009 1:18 PM
How do you prove your child is a certain age if asked?
Posted by: Morris | March 10, 2009 1:34 PM
Will it be a primary offense or will it go the way of the seat belt laws?
Posted by: AnotherWatcher | March 10, 2009 4:47 PM
Of course enforcement is always a problem with these sorts of laws (same as with booster seats) but perhaps having such a law on the books will help raise awareness of the hazards of second-hand smoke inhalation, especially in children. I told my 13 year old son about the proposed law and he was appalled that it would only apply to kids 8 years old and younger. He thinks that until a child is 18 or age of consent, the child does not usually have the option of not riding in the car and thus will be exposed to smoke against his will.
Posted by: Laura Lee | March 10, 2009 7:26 PM
When i see this kind of thing in the news all i can do is thank god i left. you poor saps........
Posted by: Denny | March 10, 2009 11:35 PM
i think the bill should be passed till the age of consent because a child cannot say please dont smoke im in the car doesnt the parent care enough to really be told not to its your child why harm them and it needs to be everywhere in all us states all i can say is its common sense who would give drugs or alcohol to a baby, child or teenager so why smoke around them whether in your house or car !!! keep trying till it passes we have to protect our children the ciggarette companies aren't enough said !!
Posted by: Charity B | June 21, 2009 4:12 PM