Ontario introduces bill to protect "children" from secondhand smoke
Four U.S. states, one Canadian province and one territory have already banned smoking in your car when children are present. Next up to potentially adopt the legislation is Ontario, Canada. A bill has been introduced into parliament that would fine anyone smoking in a car when someone under the age of 16 is also in the car.
The bill makes no exceptions for, well, anything. It doesn't matter if the car is stopped or moving, if all the windows are down and the sunroof open, or whether the smoker is driver or passenger. Smoke inside a motorized vehicle with a "child," and it'll cost you $250 Canadian.
While we don't argue with the supposed spirit of the law -- protecting children from the ill health effects of smoke -- we do wonder about the relevant age. Sixteen years old seems kind of long in the tooth to be classified as a "child," while 17-year-olds are suddenly adults who can handle it. There would also seem to be more dangerous things out there than traces of smoke at 55-MPH with the windows down, but it is Canada after all, so maybe not.
Thanks for the tip, Rodstar!
[Source: Canadian Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Wally 7:12AM (5/02/2008)
Ahh, don't you just love government trying to protect us? You'd think that IF they really wanted to protect us they'd outlaw the sales of tobacca products altogether.
But then they'd lose all that money support they get from the tobacca lobbyists.
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zmf001 9:48AM (5/02/2008)
Tobacco makes too much money. Both farming and taxes for the govt. The govt has to present Tobacco as bad (because it is in most cases), but they don't want to eliminate it. Imagine the tax revenue the govt makes off just cigarettes ...
sk 7:30AM (5/02/2008)
Thats great, the government should squeeze every sent out of those dumb smokers that poison our precious air.
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climbingcolorado 3:50PM (5/02/2008)
Except that the government has dedicated all the revenues from the cigarette taxes to education. The higher the taxes, the less smokers, the less tax-base, the less taxes, the less money going to the children.
And I thought this was all about the children.
Nuno Aguiar 11:52AM (5/02/2008)
They won't allow smoking in cars but that same person with 2 kids in the back seat is allowed to talk on there cell phone and drive and be oblivious to anything that is happening on the road at that moment.
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zmf001 12:30PM (5/02/2008)
That is also becoming illegal in most places.
Well, the cell phone part is at least. As for the oblivious part, I don't think we'll ever fix that. Nor would I want to know what crazy law they would come up with to even try.
DCragtop 7:49AM (5/02/2008)
Maybe they could also fine the holier than thou like Mr. sk there.
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Jon 7:51AM (5/02/2008)
Just triple the tax on cigs.Problem solved.
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sw 9:35AM (5/02/2008)
You don't know many smokers do you? Some will pay almost any price attached to them. Besides, they'll just go to the native reservations where they pay no tax.
Jon 12:33PM (5/05/2008)
I smoked for 10 years.the price of a pack of cigs along with all the other negatives helped influence my decision to quit 9 years ago.
Jon 11:53AM (5/02/2008)
It'll give them more incentive.
BowserUSC 7:12PM (5/04/2008)
Cigarettes are up to 8 dollars in new york city, more than double the cost in some places. I have a feeling people will still be willing to pay for cigarettes.
ed 7:52AM (5/02/2008)
"Sixteen years old seems kind of long in the tooth to be classified as a "child," while 17-year-olds are suddenly adults who can handle it." Surprised that a law comes with limits? Want to check each child for lung capacity or propensity for contracting lung cancer? Every law has a line drawn somewhere - drinking, driving, running for president. Wolfville, Nova Scotia was lauded and hated when the enacted a similar ban, but townsfolk seem to cope. (http://goodcarbadcar.blogspot.com/2007/11/smokecarkidsticket.html)
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Guenther 12:42PM (5/02/2008)
I think the distinction comes more from the fact that a 16y.o. might have some more say in how clean the air ought to be around them. Also gives the OPP free reign to pull over any car with smokers in it.
PiCASSO 8:00AM (5/02/2008)
This used to always piss me off when I seen both mother and father taking tokes of the cigarettes while their kids in the back enjoying second hand smoke.
Now, if they also put out a law that would discourage/prevent smokers from tossing their cigarette butts out the window. The same applies for smoking people who walk, ride their bikes, or any other activity. I thought that littering was illegal, but appears that this is accepted by society.
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ihatesmokers 8:34AM (5/02/2008)
+1
screw the smokers. ban it.
flame on smokers. damn junkies!
the receptionist at work smokes and is pregnant. she wont listen to
us.
her, boyfriend, and mother sit in the car outside of work everyday
smokin up a storm, sometimes with her other 2 small children.
in bad weather the windows are sealed up. its cold outside, i dont
wanna be cold. or its raining...
poor kids.
what the windows are cracked you can smell it. yeah right.
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Tina 9:22AM (5/02/2008)
I really have a hard time understanding this anger towards smokers when a child will certainly be in more danger if mommy or daddy happen to be DRUNK behind the wheel.
Last time I checked, it is still legal to smoke cigarettes and no I am not a smoker.
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apu 3:22PM (5/03/2008)
And which is why there are drunk driving laws too?
Pat 10:33AM (5/02/2008)
Drinking and driving is already illegal in Ontario
vdk 5:25PM (5/02/2008)
Not with a class G license. You can drink AND drive with that, there's some limits though, but it's possible you're ALLOWED to.