US lawmaker wants ban on smoking if kids in car: report
Wed Aug 15, 6:00 PM ET
NEW YORK (AFP) - A lawmaker from New York City, which already has some of the world's toughest anti-smoking rules, wants to ban people from lighting up in a car if there are children present, a report said Wednesday.
City Councilman James Gennaro has teamed up with anti-smoking activists to present the smoke-free auto proposal, the New York Post reported on its website. "We want to continue to fight to denormalize smoking," the Democratic lawmaker told the newspaper.
"Cigarette smoke has over 4,000 chemicals in it, and 150 of them are known to be poisonous," Gennaro, chairman of the city council's Environmental Protection Committee, said.
The plan would subject smokers in cars with children present to fines of about 200 dollars, according to the Post.
"Kids shouldn't be around smoking, period, but in cars it's particularly egregious. This provides an opportunity to give kids a break when they are in the car," Gennaro said.
Nobody at Gennaro's office was immediately available to comment.
New York authorities introduced one of the world's most aggressive anti-smoking policies in 2003, when former smoker Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned tobacco use in bars, restaurants and offices.
A report by the city health department last December showed that the number of smoking-related deaths recorded each year had fallen from almost 9,000 in 2001 to just under 8,100 in 2005.
The number of smokers in the city had meanwhile fallen by around 200,000 from 2002, officials said.
Minor Threat
08-16-07, 09:42 AM
:up:
Brian Shannon
08-16-07, 09:52 AM
Good idea but there will undoubtedly be people that think it is ok to expose children to second hand smoke.
Red Dog
08-16-07, 10:10 AM
NYC will get to a point where buying and possessing cigarettes will be legal (although they will cost you $25/pack), but if you set them on fire, no matter where you do it in the city, you'll be breaking the law.
classicman2
08-16-07, 10:40 AM
I would much prefer the banning of 'text messaging' while driving.
Is that in the cards?
A much better solution about children smoking would be for the states to sue the tobacco companies. You remember a bunch did that a few years ago. It was designed to reduce smoking. Who were they kidding? It was designed to add money to the state treasuries. That's all.
beckman307
08-16-07, 10:41 AM
The home is ok, but the car is not? Sounds like somebody would prefer to pat themselves on the back instead of trying to make a real difference.
Sdallnct
08-16-07, 11:03 AM
NYC will get to a point where buying and possessing cigarettes will be legal (although they will cost you $25/pack), but if you set them on fire, no matter where you do it in the city, you'll be breaking the law.
Well of course. You can't ban the cigarettes as then the city, state, federal government will miss out on all those taxes. It's perfectly ok to make something that kills people so long as the government gets their cut.
*obvious sarcasm*
kvrdave
08-16-07, 12:05 PM
They shouldn't be able to drink alcohol at home if they have children.
AGuyNamedMike
08-16-07, 12:08 PM
NYC? I don't think they should be permitted to have children, but everything else should be allowed.
wendersfan
08-16-07, 12:12 PM
They shouldn't be able to drink alcohol at home if they have children.How can someone not drink if they have children? :hscratch:
classicman2
08-16-07, 12:24 PM
How about banning the import of toys from China?
We can't have that. So a few hundred kids die and many others are injured, our trade with China is far more important the lives of a few kids.
kvrdave
08-16-07, 12:43 PM
How can someone not drink if they have children? :hscratch:
They should ban you from smoking if you have kids at all. If second hand smoke is enough of a danger for the small period of time people eat in restaurants, it's obviously much more dangerous in someone's home. Kids can't stop their dumbass parents from smoking, so the state should start taking the kids away and filing charges of child abuse. That's what it is.
Red Dog
08-16-07, 01:13 PM
They should ban parents from smoking, drinking, installing swimming pools, serving fatty foods, watching television, yelling, cursing, etc. Think of the potential harm that could be done! -eek- It's all child abuse I tells ya. I say the government should step in and parent!!
wendersfan
08-16-07, 01:22 PM
I'm sure that, if we asked nicely enough, the government will be happy to treat all of us like nine-year-olds. :)
OldDude
08-16-07, 01:26 PM
:up:
If second hand smoke is enough of a danger for the small period of time people eat in restaurants, it's obviously much more dangerous in someone's home.
Nonsmokers support these bans because they hate the smell. However, the real argument for it is protecting the waitstaff, which work there "all day." Other workers are protected in other workspaces. Why do we want waiters to die of cancer?
However, it is true that smokers shouldn't be exposing their kids to second-hand smoke in their homes either.
movielib
08-16-07, 01:59 PM
However, it is true that smokers shouldn't be exposing their kids to second-hand smoke in their homes either.
Well, I was and look how I turned out.
Nonsmokers support these bans because they hate the smell. However, the real argument for it is protecting the waitstaff, which work there "all day." Other workers are protected in other workspaces. Why do we want waiters to die of cancer?
-popcorn- Waiting for Red Dog's summary of thread.
Tracer Bullet
08-16-07, 02:01 PM
Personally, I'm waiting for the City Council to introduce the "9PM is bedtime, mister!" bill.
Tracer Bullet
08-16-07, 02:02 PM
Why do we want waiters to die of cancer?
Look, if they don't want to die of cancer, they can die of heart disease like the rest of us.
Altimus Prime
08-16-07, 02:03 PM
People smoking in cars with kids are assholes. If you're gonna do that, might as well give them their own.
I know people who are dumb enough to smoke, but have kids and don't smoke around them, in any confined area, such as a vehicle, home, anywhere. But there are many more who do. Hell, there are women who smoke while pregnant!
wendersfan
08-16-07, 02:06 PM
Well, I was and look how I turned out.So was I. Clearly the consumption of second hand smoke in childhood leads to the advocacy of free thought and personal responsibility, and should be banned by the government.
Red Dog
08-16-07, 02:17 PM
-popcorn- Waiting for Red Dog's summary of thread.
Let's not be too hasty. ;)
Red Dog
08-16-07, 02:20 PM
I don't want waiters and bartenders to die, but they are constantly dropping dead for a myriad of reasons. You'd think those fuckers would live forever to make me happy. :mad:
shadowhawk2020
08-16-07, 09:18 PM
I don't want waiters and bartenders to die, but they are constantly dropping dead for a myriad of reasons. You'd think those fuckers would live forever to make me happy. :mad:
When they are bad at there jobs, them dying makes you happy right?
DJLinus
08-16-07, 09:55 PM
Sigh. I guess I have to put this t-shirt back into my regular rotation.
If smoking is so bad, please just quite all the bullshit and ban the selling of tobacco immediately!
However, we all know the government won't do that because of $$$ (and tobacco lobbyists in Washington paying off politicians).
DeputyDave
08-18-07, 11:21 AM
I, personaly, welcome a Nazi police state.
crazyronin
08-18-07, 02:14 PM
So was I. Clearly the consumption of second hand smoke in childhood leads to the advocacy of free thought and personal responsibility, and should be banned by the government.
Yep. God forbid people should JUST FUCKING IGNORE what other people do as long as they are not depriving others of life, liberty or property by force or fraud.
yakuza70
08-18-07, 02:18 PM
We should all remember to be very nice to smokers. After all they are dying!
crazyronin
08-18-07, 02:49 PM
psst, if you're a non-smoker, I have a secret for you...
You're dying too.
Have a nice day. :)
Jason
08-19-07, 09:39 AM
If smoking is so bad, please just quite all the bullshit and ban the selling of tobacco immediately!
However, we all know the government won't do that because of $$$ (and tobacco lobbyists in Washington paying off politicians).
That, and prohibition simply doesn't work, as we learned in the 1920's.
People have been smoking and drinking since before recorded history. I don't think the US government is going to be able to stop it. People should be made aware of the health risks in a precise and graphic manner, but that's really about all you can do.
kenbuzz
08-21-07, 05:43 PM
Hell yes! :banana:
I don't care if you want to smoke like a chimney, just don't force Junior to join in against his will. Kids in smokers' cars don't have much choice but to suck it in. And if these kids don't get damaged lungs at a young age, then not only are they going to lead more healthy lives, but this reduces their burden on the healthcare system later.
When I'm EarthCzar, this'll be one of the first five edicts I issue.
NORML54601
08-21-07, 07:46 PM
Nonsmokers support these bans because they hate the smell. However, the real argument for it is protecting the waitstaff, which work there "all day." Other workers are protected in other workspaces. Why do we want waiters to die of cancer?
However, it is true that smokers shouldn't be exposing their kids to second-hand smoke in their homes either.
Buy: