Lawmakers to Again Consider Banning Smoking With Kids In Car
None by Eric Ray
(KCPW News) Utah lawmakers will once again consider a bill that would make smoking in a car with a child under five years old present a secondary traffic violation.Democratic Senator Scott McCoy will carry the measure again. He says young children face greater consequences from second hand smoke than adults do because their lungs are still developing and they breathe a higher volume of air.
Last year, the bill passed the senate but stalled in the House of Representatives. McCoy says opponents worried that the Division of Child and Family Services could use a violation to argue child abuse or neglect. He adds that isn't his intention, and he is happy to change the bill to avoid that circumstance.
McCoy's bill makes a violation a secondary offense. It would come with a $45 fine, which can be suspended if a person proves they have enrolled in a smoking cessation program.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and 2008 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Ernest Groce said:
I believe that the passage of this bill would be wrong. I belive that all children should be protected, but telling people what they can do in the privacy of thier own property is taking away another of our rights of freedom of choice. To me it sounds like another way to force people to quit smoking. The law makers should be looking at ways to stop people from running red lights and giving the right of way to emergency vehicles.
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