AZ bill would ban smoking with minor in car

by Associated Press (June 17th, 2009 @ 4:40pm)

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PHOENIX - It would be against the law in Arizona to smoke in vehicles in which a child is riding under a bill advancing in the Legislature.

A Senate committee on Wednesday approved the bill, which now goes to the full Senate after a legal review and party caucus briefings.

The bill is intended to reduce children's exposure to second-hand smoke, which is regarded as a health threat to children.

Under the bill, smoking in a vehicle with a minor present would be a nonmovoing civil traffic violation punishable by a $50 civil penalty for each person under age 18 in the vehicle.

Republican Sen. Linda Gray of Glendale voted against the bill. She said she hates tobacco smoke but believes ``it's a personal choice.''

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  It's one thing for

  Georgina M

  an adult to smoke and corrode their lungs and destroy their health, but to impose those health issues onto a child is stupidity and just plain old bad parenting. However, education is needed, not a bunch of big brother government holding our hands because we cannot act like adults and make sound decisions. Allthough we all know there are plenty of people out there who cannot act like adults these days. They forgot how to think.

  22321
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  The addiction is too great.....

  ken c

  for many, just like having to use a cell phone while driving, therefore, the parent (or whoever is in the car smoking) will find it unbearable to fight the urges. The people smoking won't care and will do their best to conceal the appearance of smoking. I wonder if one can pull off a Gomer Pyle ( remember the Andy Griffith episode?) and make a "citizen's arrest."

  22211
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