Calif. Prohibits Smoking With Kids In Car

$100 Fine As of Jan. 1, But Only If Motorist Is Stopped For Another Infraction

(AP)  California motorists will risk fines of up to $100 next year if they are caught smoking in cars with minors, making their state the third to protect children in vehicles from secondhand smoke.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed a bill that will make it an infraction to smoke in a vehicle if someone under age 18 is present. But the traffic stop would have to be made for another offense, such as speeding or an illegal turn, before the driver could be cited for smoking.

The ban, which takes effect Jan. 1, joins a string of smoking prohibitions adopted in California, including a ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and within 25 feet of a playground.

A Harvard School of Public Health report issued last year said secondhand smoke in cars can be up to 10 times more of a health risk than secondhand smoke in a home.

"Protecting the health of our children is among government's highest responsibilities," said the bill's author, state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat. "It is clear that increasing public awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke is the right thing to do."

At least 20 states and a number of municipalities have considered limiting smoking in cars where minors are present. Arkansas now bans smoking in cars with children age 6 and younger, while Louisiana has limited it when children 13 and younger are in the vehicle. Maine lawmakers will take up the issue in January.

[deathtopc]

If they are so concerned about the "children" then ban tobacco period. I guess they need that tobacco money they are addicted to

[mnb0]

I can''t seem to understand this anti smoking kick.
If you ask any Doctor the ratio of patients in any Hospital due to alcohol vs tabacco is about 9 to 1.
This includes the effects of second hand alcohol.
But nobody seems interested in raising any taxes on alcohol.
They also still have parking lots at all bars.
and in most hospitals I can drink a beer.

[candy-apple]

My understanding is that a man/woman''s vehicle is an extension of their home. Next thing you know politicians and non-smokers are going to try to tell smokers that they can''t smoke in their own homes. When you start paying my bills, medical and otherwise, then you can tell me what to do. I am a law abiding tax-paying citizen and I''m sick of some people telling me what I can and can''t do in my own home and vehicle with my own children.
I have a life size picture of one of the politicians in Louisiana trying to pass something like this!!

[horse3farm]

What another crock of sht. Secondhand smoke is the biggest propaganda farce of all time. It''s an excuse. It''s a wonder that 5 generations of my family are still alive after having smoked from the beginning. Give me a break.

[mitch0927]

horse3farm, so what you''re saying is, go a head and smoke in the car with children? No caring about what they are having to breathe? Just so you can enjoy something they can''t and it is harmful to others. I say this because I am a smoker and have been one for almost 35 years. You sound like my ex wife, being all huffy and puffy about YOUR RIGHTS TO SMOKE...I think you''re a crock od sht....!!

[eggy1620]

This whole argument could be solved through one piece of legislation. That smokers no longer have to right to receive medical treatment for smoking related illnesses.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by mnb0 at 12:03 PM : Oct 11, 2007



Its smoke and mirrors, just like the war in Iraq. The Liquor Industry makes a lot more money than the Tobacco Industry so they get to call the shots.
As for the war, That is to keep us from watching Big Business turn the USA into a third world country so that they can form the American Nation (north and South), Check out NAFTA, CAFTA, and other agreements going on now.

[rushman71]

horse3farm: I agree with you! The smokers are being singled out as murderers because of bogus information provided by the government that says if you smoke you are going to die, AND you are killing everyone around you while you smoke!!! WHAT HYPOCRASY!!! We are turning this nation into a NAZI controlled country, and this has nothing to do with Bush(for you ******* libs)!!! We are turning our attention to a smoke-free environment, and forgeting the FACT that, someday, somehow, we are going to die anyway!!! I say live life to the fullest, enjoy your freedom, and if you don''t want to breath that disgusting second-hand smoke, get the he11 out of here!!!

[mitch0927]

rushman71, yeah and you would only say something like that in a forum like this. You don''t have the ballz to actually come out and talk like that to most people, because your smoke filled a$$ is too slow to run away.....

[karma1231]

I say live life to the fullest, enjoy your freedom, and if you don''''t want to breath that disgusting second-hand smoke, get the he11 out of here!!!

Posted by rushman71 at 01:24 PM : Oct 11, 2007

I think the point is that some children under the age of 18 dont have the choice to get the he11 out of there. The bill is to protect children.

[mitch0927]

ToolMangler: Always some moron comparing things to the war in Iraq...how lame you are!!

[Krazcarl]

I was a nurse and never heard of anyone dieing of secons hand smoke but imagine it''s possible most smokers roll down the window a bit to keep the air fresh. This is a state intrusion into your private life and give the cops another reason to pull you over nothing but total hogwash you would think there would be more pressing issues. The biggest joke is Arnie is a cigar smoker wht is it on even a state level politicians are messing with rights.

[michellem99-2009]

Bangor,Maine has that law. THey can''t smoke in their car if their kids are in the car..I read it in their on line paper when they were passing it. It may be yer car but that child doesn''t have to suffer yer smoke. My foster mothers never smoked as that was not allowed. Bangor Maine became the 1st place to pass it in this nation. Pass it nation wide.

[klingon69]

They can only ticket you if stopped for another violation? Yeah, Texas used to have that for seastbelts, now it is a primary offense, they can stop you for not wearing one, how long before they stop you for smoking?

[Krazcarl]

mitch0927...Tool mangler and I go head head on a lot of issues but I agree with him. Your just trying to bully your views on others even if it''s *** with there rights. What I like about you guys is how many people get killed in cars every day but have you requested legislation for safer cars a quick trip to towm will put out more contaminents than a lifetime of smoking but there cool you like your car and don''t smoke so it''s cool to mess with me go buy an electric car you nazi don''t tell me how to live period.

[karma1231]

crzmeat, the article points out that you have to be pulled over for another traffic infraction in order to be cited for the smoking offense. "Intrusion into your private life"? How about the life of the young passengers in the car? I''m glad you weren''t my nurse!

[Krazcarl]

KARMA....Your pulled over a ash tray full of buts are you that stupid and you had better be glad you were never my pt.

[karma1231]

i would just prefer that my physicians and nurses be aware of the dangers of smoking. Stupid? Yes, I''m stupid.

[reporter211]

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[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat,Dear they do die of 2rd hand smoke. My Dad is on oxygen 24/7. He and his new wife live there. Dad has lived there since 60. I will tell yer why he is on it,COPD. As a nurse you would know what smoking does to the body.The army got him smoking. Dad is 72. I live with a heart,diabetes,copd, patent. He has had 5 heart attacks. He is 55. Them bloody cigerettes. I would not let him smoke in the home. He was told by his Dr. quit or no medical care. That was 9/12/00. He quit cold turkey.

[slim1h2o]

If only these lawmakers would pass some laws that would reduce our stress levels, we feel the need to smoke. Yet another law to worry about, not breaking.

And MichelleM99 COPD is one of most overrated "new" diseases I''ve ever heard of. Seems like they they are to quick to hand out that diagnoses, instead of looking else where, especially if you are a smoker. I know, I''ve been wrongly diagnosed with it.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by mitch0927 at 01:54 PM : Oct 11, 2007


Thanks crzmeat, but its easy to see that he is not thinking with his brain or else he would have seen what we have. Give him time, if he continues to sit on his thinking apparatus then we can trash him.

[dan9111]

Why are kids even allowed in the car? Automobile crashes kill more children than cigarettes. That is statistically easy to verify. Clearly having kids in the car is killing them right off the bat.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by MichelleM99 at 02:08 PM : Oct 11, 2007


I am not saying that you don''t have a valid argument but I am saying that you should be careful of the laws you pass or children may end up with more power than you have, It is illegal to physically punish your children, if you don''t believe that, try to pop a rearend in a store and see what happens. Now Cal wants to legally limit what you can do near your children. It is just getting started by banning smoking in a car with children. What is next? I can visualize many laws that could be passed (in the interest of the children). I will tell you now that it will never be illegal to drink near them. (prohibition didn''t work before and won''t work now). Just be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. (Check out the Hitler and Communist youth and their powers)

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by Dan9111 at 03:56 PM : Oct 11, 2007


Book ''em! Dano!!!

[slim1h2o]

Smoking is disgusting. And it causes impotence in men! And lowers the s e x drive in women.

What more reason do you need not to smoke?


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Posted by patriot75 at 06:35 PM : Oct 11, 2007

Huh? What are you talking about, I smoke, and I''m not impotent. ............LOL

[Krazcarl]

patriot75 ...your not a patriot your jusy another moron that thinks with a flasy title your glass hold will hold more water your just another idiot trying to inflict your views on others pinhead.

[toolmangler-2009]

Huh? What are you talking about, I smoke, and I''''m not impotent. ............LOL

Posted by slim1h2o at 06:47 PM : Oct 11, 2007


I started smoking in 1953, I quit in July 10 2004, the day I died. The medics brought me back, haven''t had a smoke since. (death has a way of inspiring you)

[michellem99-2009]

I HAVE A ROOM MATE WITH IT AND HIS DRS. TELL HIM THAT HE GOT IT. I HAVE NEVER SMOKED. I AM NOT A LAWYER BUT A LAY PERSON. I live with a person that have the health issues and they werw caused by years of smoking. He has told me that he wished he never smoked. He started when a kid. Tool I see yer as the kind grand fatherly gent. I am the 53 year old legally blind lady who is just high school grad. Yer know them kids got more power than we had as kids. Ask yer grandbabies. I use a white cane and they can have yer asre in jail and I could see that day coming as I grew up in foster homes. They cou;d not lay a paw on me in shcool. Like you ,I wore thick glasses.

[mo005]

I am so friggin glad I moved out of California. It is a communist state. I give it a couple more years and you will need to have your hair trimed to a certain length and color or you will be arrested. What the hell you people worried about these p-ssy whipped kids of today are gonna kill each other at school anyways.

[toolmangler-2009]

"Secondhand Smoke Hurts Heart Like Smoking"

If you are sucking the smoke out of the smokers lungs as he/she breathes out then you are getting half of what they got. I don''t mind being lip-locked with a good looking woman I just wouldn''t want it 24/7

[michellem99-2009]

Tool yer get grand babies. I loved my late grandfather but he chewed and he carried a spittoon with him.

[slim1h2o]

started smoking in 1953, I quit in July 10 2004, the day I died. The medics brought me back, haven''''t had a smoke since. (death has a way of inspiring you)



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Posted by ToolMangler at 07:14 PM : Oct 11, 2007

Well, I''m not going into the details, but I quit smoking also. Worst thing I ever did, like I said, not going into the details, just because your doctor says to quit, doesn''t mean you should. I lost my life, cause I quit smoking. At least, as I knew it. I had no problems when I quit, then, after a year of not smoking, some @sshole came into work (my co worker) sick. Then, after being ill for a year after that, they started harrssing me about it. Like I said Im not going into details, but beleive me I was sc/rewed, and not by smoking, but by stupid doctors, and stupid people. This guy was no better than that guy from Ga., I beleive that guys name was Speaks, and if you remmember, I was calling that an @sshole. You can include a Lefever to that list as well!

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by slim1h2o at 08:33 PM : Oct 11, 2007


My friend, I was not aiming that at you and if you saw it that way, I apologize. I got hung up in another commentary and just now got back.

[jetranger7]

SMOKING BAN,, WOW too Badd California can''t enforce its Immegration laws on Illegals, but they had time to do this ! Simply Amazing, just Amazing !! Brilliant Idiots at work !

[grammawhamma]

Smoking is disgusting. And it causes impotence in men! And lowers the s e x drive in women.

What more reason do you need not to smoke?


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Posted by patriot75 at 06:35 PM : Oct 11, 2007

Hmmmm...if that is true...smoking must be the cure all for the overpopulation problem. I would think you would be grateful to the smokers for doing their part to keep the population in control. :p