Banned: Smoking In Cars With Kids Under 16
Posted by: Kenny Chan onJune 17th, 2008
Ontario has joined British Columbia and Nova Scotia in banning smoking in vehicles carrying kids under the age of 16. The offense carries a maximum fine of $250. Critics of the ban argue that this is just another step towards banning smoking in private residences but the Government claims it has no plans under consideration. While Ontario has introduced controversial laws in the past, most are supportive of this one as it is hard to argue against it.
Smoking in Ontario workplaces and public areas, such as bars and restaurants, is already illegal in Ontario, but the new ban will provide an additional level of protection to children under the age of 16 , said Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best.
Other provinces that are also considering similar bans are Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Alberta, which banned smoking in all public areas is not considering extending the ban to vehicles with children.
I find it a shame that we need legislation to control every aspect of our lives and that common sense cannot dictate what we do. Seriously, do we need a law that says when we are driving young kids around that we should not smoke and force them to breathe in all that smoke? Lets ignore the health hazards for a moment. Do we want our kids to smell like cigarette smoke? When I see news articles like the one below I get reminded that, yes we do need these laws.
The worst disease for your health is smoking. The Medical Association of Great Britain described in figures the damage to a general state of health, human reproductive abilities and his or her libido, which is caused by smoking. Everyone acknowledge that smoking causes, but no one seems to care that thousands of children every day are exposed to second hand smoke while driving.
All the more reason to quit! I wasn’t too concerned. I never have kids in my car, but it’s still a good idea!
I smoke myself, but this is a move I 100% support. I hate seeing people smoking with kids in the car, and remember how uncomfortable it was for myself when I was a kid.
I’m going to have to agree with Jeff here, maybe we do need this legislation to protect kids from their retarded parents.
Police State
They should make stop checks to check your ID, licence, vehicle registration, blood alcohol levels, Drug test. Also search the vehicle for any drugs, firearms or alcohol. Then check the ID of all occupants of the vehicle to determine if they are under sixteen. If there is evidence of cigarette smoke in the vehicle the driver shall be fined. If the fine is not paid jail time shall be (en)forced. Higher 1000 more police officers if need be.
It’s not a health issue, it’s liberty and freedom at stake and people don’t care one bit.
This is what we need, i get in to many cars with ashtray and baby seats!! People should have more common sense then this
As a mother and a smoker, I DO agree with a law that should be passed to prevent parents from smoking in the vehicle with their children, However, I dont agree with a lot of what is said about it all. There are numerous places where children can go where smoking is still allowed, Example just a walk down the street, or at a park. So what will they do in this case? Ban smoking all together? Im not thinking so. In my opinion and from some studies that they have done you and your children may be breathing in more chemicals and more pollutants just by going outside then what you could possibly get by sitting in a vehicle with a smoker with the windows rolled down. The world has changed today, People are so scared of cancer and illness however are not seeing that reasearch has also shown a high number of cancer cases in things as small as a cup of coffee, a virus, even people who travel a lot. Now with that said, I think the real question here is more so about freedom and power, so even though I agree with the ban, it almost seems as though more needs to be said regarding it, if anything maybe it could be a simple thing as banning it to prevent children under 16 from wanting to be just like the adult smoking in the vehicle, but then again that too could be debatable.
My Cousin has 3 kids, 2 of them under 2 yrs old… Even though she is a smart person who understands the negatives, she continues to chain smoke in vehicles with her children. It is a addiction thing. If she is in a public place for over an hour then she feels she needs a smoke and doesn’t care about the presence of her beautiful girls who are dying in the back seat. I think that this is disgusting. Smokers can’t be trusted to think about what they are doing to others because they are for the most part selfish zombies who can’t help themselves fight their addictions. (Even if it just means pulling over and getting out of the car to appease themselves) Right now, this law would be a great thing for her family. I just wish that they would have the same law apply to private homes with children because if you could see how foggy it is in her little house with all of her friends in there smoking constantly or the kids getting into the ashtrays you would wish children’s aid could come in and save the kids too!!
@opinion101:
I was a pack and a half/day smoker for 25yrs, and recently quit. I know how selfish an addict can be, and MAKE NO MISTAKE: A smoker IS an addict, in every way, shape and form. I should know, I was one- I still crave from time to time. But once you’ve decided to seriously quit, you will quit! It may take 5-6-7 times, but you will if you really want to.
NOW, having said that, the logic that you are using is anything but sound. Yes, there are hazards all around us, but you should do some research. Smoking kills more people on this planet than anything else combined. How can you compare the inside of a car with being outside?! Even with the windows rolled down, smoke will still waft around the interior of the vehicle, It took a very long time to get the smell out of my car, and I ALWAYS smoked with the windows rolled down.
A child walking down the street with a parent, can encounter a smoker-that much is true, but that cannot even remotely be compared to being trapped inside a vehicle, with a parent who refuses to butt out. Being outside, in a park or public sidewalk, you can always walk away, or veer clear from a smoker. And believe me when I tell you, than unless you are living in a heavily industrialised, unregulated country, there is no way in hell, that there are more pollutants outside, than in your smoke-filled vehicle.
An addict will use any excuse to justify their behaviour- The freedoms and liberties card, has been played to death. What gives us the freedom, or right to directly expose another human being to a dangerous product loaded with carcinogens? What choice does a child have inside a car, other than to say “Mom/Dad the smoke is making me dizzy” . If people want to smoke, that is their choice, but non- smokers should have the right to not have to inhale someone else’s second hand smoke. When it comes to children though, it should be a no-brainer. But it isn’t. It took me about a month, and tons of research to realize that I was killing myself on a dailly basis, and possibly harming others with my cigarette addiction. And yes, Karla hit the nail on the head. Smokers ARE selfish Zombies. I should know- I WAS one!
If you want to smoke, then smoke. I won’t waive the flag at you, but for the love of God, spare the kids!
@JazzyJeff883: thank you for sparing me to write a long epistle! I couldn’t agree more with overy word you write, and I am very sorry and sad to see people thinking like ‘opinion101′. I have 3 kids, and only quit smoking when the third one was about one year old. Even though I never smoked with the kids present, it was a bad feeling knowing I deteriorated my health - having three very heatlhy boys, I badly needed my vondition to sport with the boys, climb mountains, play with them etc. And yes, quitting was no big deal once I had the will to do it. One tip:I never told myself that I had quit for good (that would put to much weight to the decision) - instead I quitted for one day, after that again one day, and so forth. That was 2 years ago, now I very rarely crave for cigerattes.