When a new law goes into effect Sept. 1, one more place will be off limits for smokers – their cars.
That is, if there are children in them.
A new law passed by the Legislature earlier this year will make it illegal to smoke inside a car if a child under 16 is riding in it. In the first year the law is in effect, violators will receive a written warning, and after that, police will give violators a $50 fine.
Some might find this new law invasive and yet another restriction on the rights of smokers. Still, given the other restrictions we already have on children riding in cars and the places people can smoke, this law makes a lot of sense.
The state requires children weighing less than 40 pounds to be in a car seat and children under 8 and weighling less than 80 pounds to ride in a car seat or belt-positioning booster. Children under the age of 18 must wear seat belts. Inhaling second-hand smoke arguably poses as great a danger as car accidents do.
“We know that second-hand smoke is a Class A carcinogen that causes a wide variety of other illnesses, particularly in children,” said Dr. Dora Ann Mills, head of the Maine Center for Disease Control. “Children’s lungs, ears and cardiovascular systems are much more sensitive to the toxic effects.”
Smoking in cars can cause ear infections and asthma and lead to other long-term health problems. The effects of second-hand smoke in cars can be particularly acute because it’s concentrated in small, enclosed spaces. In Maine, car windows are shut most of the year, unless smokers are willing to freeze, along with their children.
Children typically don’t have a choice about whether they want to be there, and that’s why it’s appropriate for the state to step in to protect them.
Cars with children will join a growing list of places where smoking is not allowed, including restaurants and bars. Some communities are now considering banning smoking in public parks.
While some might bemoan the loss of rights for smokers, adding to these restricted areas is in all of our best interests. People are more aware now than ever of the dangers of smoking and being exposed to it because it is becoming increasingly rare. Those who don’t smoke notice when they are around second-hand smoke because it is no longer everywhere. Conversely, laws like these should also make smokers more aware of the damage they are doing to their lungs and potentially the lungs of others when they smoke near them.
The state will be running public service ads on TV and radio in the coming weeks to make people aware of the new law. These ads and the new law should make smokers think twice about lighting up near children – not just in cars, but everywhere.
Brendan Moran, editor
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