HB 1056 would impose a $25 fine for motorists who smoke in a passenger vehicle while it is occupied by a child, 13 years old or younger.
Boy, that would’ve made some of my childhood vacations more pleasant. As the youngest child, my seat was always in the way back of the station wagon. My folks were smokers. I remember the conversations occasionally going like this:
Doug: “Can you open a window, please?”
Parents: “Nope, we have the air conditioner on.”
*Cough* *cough*
Somehow the smoke traveled to the back of the Impala wagon a lot faster than the cool air.
Been there. *cough*
Although Dad quit over 20 years ago now. Atta boy!
That’s how it was as one of the few non-smokers at my parents work. The gus would hop in the truck and light up. I’d bitch at them to open a window. They’d bitch that the a/c was on. Ultimately we would compromise by having the window cracked open.
BTW Illinios just went smoke-free on the 1st. I’d love to see how all those truckers who smoke are handling having the tv lounge in truck stops smoke free! Can’t wait until IN gets smart enough to adopt smoking bans. I know how you feel about local rights, Doug, but this is one I want to have happen for my kids.
It’s always bad when you get enough of something like that to annoy you, but not enough to mutate you into a super hero.
If only your parents had been giving off gamma rays…
Mmmmmmm…gamma rays.
This year, citations/tickets. Next year, referral to Child Protective Services after citation. The year after, first case to remove the children from the parents because the smoking endangers the welfare of the child.
This doesn’t bother any of you civil rights advocates??
Doug I know the back of the Impala was uncomfortable, but would you rather they had taken you away from your mom and dad for such behavior?
I would’ve rather my parents didn’t smoke in the car.
The real question is how hazardous second hand smoke really is. If it’s really dangerous, then we can’t condone exposure of children unable to make their own choices even if we can allow adults to make such decisions for themselves. If the danger is minimal, then this bill is a bad idea. I’m not really up on the science, so I have no idea.
Two things:
1) Do you believe in the science?
2) If yes, do you believe it should be legislated?
The science: There are a lot of controversial subjects that come down to science that is beyond the education and experience of most of us. The only thing we can do is compare it to our own observations and look at the people/groups that are holding the opposing views – making a judgement as to which we find more credible.
This is an easy one for me – I truly believe second-hand smoke is harmful. As a child, being around cigarette smoke made be physically nauseous. Although I’ve built up something of a tolerance over time, I still avoid it which is certainly more possible now than it was 20 years ago.
2) Legislation: holding it up to the “if it picks my pocket or breaks my leg” test (to paraphrase)… Well not *my* leg… I’m over 18 and I can’t be forced to ride around with the person… but his/her children do, and while we are a culture that protects a person’s right to break their *own* leg (kind of), we also do what we can to protect those who can’t protect themselves.
Does anyone know where they got the age of 13? Seems arbitrary… are 14 year olds suddenly able to say “don’t do that” and be listened to? Is there scientific evidence that second-hand smoking is less hazardous to the over-13 crowd?
How did this go from a citation to taking children away from their parents? Children are not taken away every time their parents mess up or break the law. ::(
I think it’s pretty likely that if you make it against the law, you’ll see (very shortly) the natural proven extension of the law. Two or three citations and a bureaucrat will flag it as child abuse.
The next logical step will be removing the children from the parents for their own good. That’s not far-fetched at all in todays nanny state.
Yeah, the spirit of Tajanay Bailey is cursing those meddling child welfare agents who took her away from her natural mother…
This is a joke, they have taken most places to smoke away now your car!
What’s next, tickets for parents smoking at home.
How about a $25 fine for talking on the cell phone with children under 13 in a vehicle. This is almost as bad.
Hell, they’ve taken away the right to smoke marijuana everywhere. Soon, a combination of nanny-statists and gay activists will make so that you aren’t even allowed to smack the gay out of your 3 year old anymore.
Smacking the gay out of your 3 year old?
That works?
How ’bout we first try smacking the stupid out of a legislature, and see how that works out?
In re: smacking the gay out of a 3 year old
I think it worked insofar as dead children can’t grow up to be gay children. But, I’ll just go on record as not endorsing this approach.
No to “play” so rough with his son? If that is playing, then rape is “surprise sex”.
Oh sure, whatever, tim zank.