http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...,1,6212573.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
what is your veiw? i think its wrong.. i do agree that people shouldnt be smoking around kids and make them breath it.. the part i have a problem with is the fact of them having that much more control over us... telling us we cant smoke in our own cars... come on.. thats ****ed up...
Illinois bill would ban smoking with kids in car
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
Associated Press Writer
Published March 8, 2007, 2:15 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois could join the short list of states that bar people from smoking in cars when children are present, under legislation introduced by Rep. Mike Boland.
Boland wants to make it a misdemeanor to smoke in a car if any of the passengers are 8 or younger. Violators could be slapped with a $1,500 fine and a month in jail.
The Moline Democrat said he was inspired when he walked past a car filled with a cloud of smoke from the driver's cigarette. "I saw some little heads in their little car seats and thought 'Gee, that's really awful,"' Boland said.
Arkansas and Louisiana already ban smoking in cars with child passengers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A dozen or so other states -- including California, Massachusetts and Arizona -- are considering similar bans.
The details vary from state to state. Some apply to children of any age; others apply only when the children are young enough for car seats. Others allow only a warning for the first violation. Fines of $25 and $50 are common.
Boland's legislation carries far higher penalties, but he predicted they would be used rarely. Police and judges would be more likely to issue warnings or light fines, he said.
Boland said he picked 8 as the cut-off age because children that age and younger must be in car seats. That would give police an easy way to spot potential violations, rather setting some other age limit and forcing police to guess whether passengers are older or younger.
The Illinois Association of Tobacco and Candy Distributors says it has no objection to Boland's proposal. Legislative liaison Harry "Bud" Kelley said the group opposes restrictions on where adults can choose to smoke, but children in cars don't have a choice.
"We will not make any opposition to that bill whatsoever. Anybody who would is nuts," Kelley said.
Meanwhile, two health groups aren't taking a position.
Officials at the American Cancer Society and the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco said their focus is on passing a statewide ban on smoking in public places, so they haven't studied the idea of restricting smoking in cars.
Boland's bill has not yet been heard by legislative committee.
what is your veiw? i think its wrong.. i do agree that people shouldnt be smoking around kids and make them breath it.. the part i have a problem with is the fact of them having that much more control over us... telling us we cant smoke in our own cars... come on.. thats ****ed up...
Illinois bill would ban smoking with kids in car
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
Associated Press Writer
Published March 8, 2007, 2:15 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois could join the short list of states that bar people from smoking in cars when children are present, under legislation introduced by Rep. Mike Boland.
Boland wants to make it a misdemeanor to smoke in a car if any of the passengers are 8 or younger. Violators could be slapped with a $1,500 fine and a month in jail.
The Moline Democrat said he was inspired when he walked past a car filled with a cloud of smoke from the driver's cigarette. "I saw some little heads in their little car seats and thought 'Gee, that's really awful,"' Boland said.
Arkansas and Louisiana already ban smoking in cars with child passengers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A dozen or so other states -- including California, Massachusetts and Arizona -- are considering similar bans.
The details vary from state to state. Some apply to children of any age; others apply only when the children are young enough for car seats. Others allow only a warning for the first violation. Fines of $25 and $50 are common.
Boland's legislation carries far higher penalties, but he predicted they would be used rarely. Police and judges would be more likely to issue warnings or light fines, he said.
Boland said he picked 8 as the cut-off age because children that age and younger must be in car seats. That would give police an easy way to spot potential violations, rather setting some other age limit and forcing police to guess whether passengers are older or younger.
The Illinois Association of Tobacco and Candy Distributors says it has no objection to Boland's proposal. Legislative liaison Harry "Bud" Kelley said the group opposes restrictions on where adults can choose to smoke, but children in cars don't have a choice.
"We will not make any opposition to that bill whatsoever. Anybody who would is nuts," Kelley said.
Meanwhile, two health groups aren't taking a position.
Officials at the American Cancer Society and the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco said their focus is on passing a statewide ban on smoking in public places, so they haven't studied the idea of restricting smoking in cars.
Boland's bill has not yet been heard by legislative committee.
