New law being pondered for NJ town....

Fit_mommy

Fit_mommy

Cathlete
At the risk of this discussion getting unpleasant, I feel compelled to talk about this.

Has anyone heard about the new anti-smoking law that they are considering in Keyport NJ? They want to make it illegal to smoke in a PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE when a child under a certain age is in the vehicle.

Okay, so I get the idea behind it but I simply can not agree with it! If that is not the beginning of Big Brother then I don't know what is! It is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard of!!! If this is even being CONSIDERED then for pete's sake take tobacco off the market! Make it illegal already!!!! JEESH! x( x( x(

I will step down off my soapbox now to give someone else a turn but before I do so let me please remind everyone to play nice because this is likely to be a very touchy subject!;)

The floor is yours folks!:)
 
Wendy-
I know the'll be heat for this one but I am in total agreement!
This is absolutely yet 1 more way that that we are moving away from the freedoms we are guarenteed in this country.

It is also eye opening for those people that dismiss the notion that our government is controlled by tobacco companies, pharmaceutical companies and the like... I agree totally that if smoking is that bad why not make it an illegal substance? Oh - could it be that too much $$$$ from tobacco industry into government pocketbooks is the reason???

ETA: This is the type of thing that should be on voting ballots... I'm REALLY tired of having laws like this be settled outside of voting polls.... This doesnt reflect the "peoples" viewpoint in many cases and it IS suppose to be about "We the people"...

My thoughts.... good thing I'll be away from computers all weekend!
 
Well here's my 2cents. I think people shouldn't be allowed to do anything while driving- eating, smoking, talking on cell phones,... It's just too darn dangerous. We take driving for granted really and forget how dangerous it is. Of course I am guilty too. I try not to talk on my cell phone, but I admit to doing it from time to time. If they made it illegal I would stop. Anything thagt distracts the driver from paying full attention to the road should be stopped.

I also agree that they should just make cigarettes illegal period. They are known carcinogens and cause other chronic health problems. Why oh why are they still legal??? As was stated above it's all about the $$$$. Forget the gov trying to protect us x(

Catherine http://www.smileyhut.com/silly/arrowhead.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=14665913&uid=7769645&members=1


http://images.meez.com/user02/07/07_10005451873.gif
 
Smoking is a touchy subject for me as my mom died from lung cancers after years of smoking. However, I do agree with the thought that our freedoms are being taken away. It's scary to think about the vast array of things that could be made illegal. Where will it stop?

ETA I agree with Catherine about the distracted driving thing. But, if that is the reasoning why would they limit it to the situation of having a child of certain age in the vehicle?

Phyllis http://www.smileyhut.com/silly/arrowhead.gif

http://www.picturetrail.com/pwmatt
 
I see both sides. I think that as long as you're not enforcing your decisions on others, it should be ok. This includes drug use, alcohol use, whatever suits you. I do have a problem when your decisions impact the lives of others. If you're smoking in front of a child and they have no choice but to breath in your smoke, I think that may be infringing on the child's right to breath clean air. Just my .02 cents.

Carolyn
 
Just an FYI, it is illegal to use your cell phone in New York Sate while driving. You can use a head set, but you cannot hold it to your ear. Just wanted to put that out there.
 
Wendy, I couldn't agree with you more. That is really scary! :eek: :eek: :eek:

ETA: I'd rather see the government license who can be a parent and who can't then come into people's cars and homes and tell them how to behave as a parent.
 
How long before they start regulating what you can do in the privacy of your own home? Oh wait... that's already happened in some ways. So sorry if that sounds harsh but like Wendy said, it certainly feels like more Big Brother to me also. Wow...:eek:

Kel
 
I've heard about this proposal, however, I was under the inpression that it was only if you had children in the car. Could be wrong, though.
 
I agree with you, Wendy. It's the beginning of Big Brother... or rather, the continuation of Big Brother. EVERYONE knows now how horrible smoking is, and how awful second-hand smoke is... so they should just make cigarettes illegal and stop messing around with all these riduclous laws.
 
My question is...Aren't there more important things to be worried about???? They should be working on laws to keep terrorists out and making illegal immigrants(sp?)legal.

I can see where the thought process is for no cell phone use in cars (only headsets) that law is also in Jersey. Drinking and driving are illegal, so is doing drugs and driving. Both those things endanger yourself and others.And as a parent, smoking in a car with a child is harmful to the child and I agree. But doesn't that fall under what you do in your own space? i.e. home, car.... Also, wouldn't it be a total waste of man power to enforce this??

Deanie
 
In the UK it is illegial to smoke in public places in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Health care is state provided and is rationed.
Obese and patients who smoke are at times being refused treatment. It is illegial to drive while holding a mobile phone. it must be hands free. You can be proscuted for eating or drinking whilst driving. Smoking has been mentioned as next on the list. Parents who allow their children to get drunk under 16 are now to be targeted. Drink age in the UK is 18 not 21 like the USA. Binge drinking big issue amongst teenagers. Cigarettes cost upwards of $10+ a packet of 20.
 
I have no problem w/the law, but more b/c of the safety aspect rather than the health aspect. IMO smoking in the car is just as, if not more, distracting than talking on a cell phone. People digging in their purses/pockets, trying to light them, etc........I think when it comes to roadway safety, especially in NJ (just look at our numbskull governor), the more laws the better.

Yes we have the no cell phone use while driving here as well, & it's not enforced. I don't even bother hiding it when I'm talking on my cell when I pass a police car. I'm sure should this pass it wouldn't be enforced either. Knowing our local police the way I do, they can't be bothered w/stuff like that. They'd rather be out catching real criminals.
 
With gas prices going up (and our lack of willingness to find alternatives) they'll have to rewrite the law to make smoking while bicycling, skateboarding, hang gliding, or riding rickshaw illegal.

<You can be prosecuted for eating or drinking whilst driving.>
I guess one can take comfort in knowing that U.S. politicians are not the only such people with nothing better to do than makes up pointless, barely enforceable laws.
 
That's soooo funny. I'm in Alberta Canada, but last week end we were out driving and I saw a mom smoking with her kids in the car. I turned to my husband and said that should be against the law! I think it is ridiculous that even though we know the risks of smoking and second hand smoke yet people continue to expose their children to it. That is the very reason I quit. I got married and knew kids would be in the future, so I quit long before I got pregnant. It was one thing when we were kids and our parents did it...they didn't know what we do now. It really blows my mind. In fact it blows my mind that people continue to smoke in the first place. I know that everything these day will kill you (it seems;-) ) But with smoking? I just don't get it. Especially since I've been there and know you can quit.

ETA: There wouldn't be a need for "Big Brother" if people would actually be responsible with their own decisions and actions. Yet for some reason people continue to endanger others so they have to make laws like this one to protect others. I find it sad really.
 
This law has already been passed in other states/communities. However, like seat belt laws, in most places it is not a "primary offense" law. In other words, if they see you smoking, they don't stop you. If they stop you for some other traffic offense (running a red light, broken brake lights, etc), and you are found to be smoking with a child under 18 in the car, then they write you a ticket for the first offense and for the second offense. I think this is perfectly reasonable, being that 5 year olds can't protect themselves from their own ignorant parents. Smoking with your young child in the car is the life-risk equivalent of driving drunk. It boggles my mind to think that people out there are willing to play roulette with the lives of their own children, because their cigarettes are more important to them than the well-being of their own kids. My mother smokes and it is simple - she chooses me or the cigs. If she chooses the cigs, I won't go around her. A kid doesn't have that option.
 
I have to agree with you, Wendy. I hate ANYTHING that smacks of Big Brother government intrusion. I have no problem with putting it on the ballot and letting the people decide, though. Smoking has been banned in all public places in Ohio, but that was decided by the people. We voted on it in the last election and it passed by a large margin.

As for mothers who smoke -- don't even get me started. First of all, I'd like to be able to prosecute pregnant women who smoke. I'd like them to spend the duration of their pregnancy in jail, and I'd want their sentence to include community service by working in a neonatal intensive care unit. Last week I was driving past a children's hospital when I spotted an overweight woman puffing a cigarette with an infant in one of those doohickeys strapped to her chest. That was repugnant to me. I wanted to grab that baby from her.
 
I just want to put out there that you guys that are worried about "protecting your rights" and going by the constitution etc etc.....following those rights are the same thing that allow you to have a pedophile living next door to your 2 year old. Sometimes it's not such a bad thing when the Gov. steps in and "takes" rights away. Why don't you worry less about what "rights" and "freedoms" you are losing(smoking with your children...c'mon!) and look at the bigger picture here.....they are trying to protect our children not take away your freedom.
 
So "Slimming Mom" if I understand you correctly and respectively, you would have no problem with the federal government invading your home and telling YOU how to raise your children?
 
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