The children be darned! Tobacco taxes.

[Nomilynn]

Smoking in your car with children inside is now illegal here where I live. They have also banned smoking within 3 metres (approx. 10 feet) from any public intake into a building including patios.. so any doors, windows, apartment patios (altho I don't think that is really enforced) etc, and there is no smoking on any restaurant patio. In Vancouver, the distance is twice that.

I think this is FANTASTIC. I am not a smoker, and I am very allergic to it. It makes me incredibly ill. If someone wants to smoke, go ahead, but don't subject me to your second hand smoke because I don't want to breathe it in and get sick from it. There are dsignated smoking areas still, they are just farther away from the non-smoking public and that is a-ok with me. As for not smoking with children in the car - I think it's sad that a law needs to be passed for that, because it really should be common sense.

[lizbud]

Smoking in your car with children inside is now illegal here where I live. They have also banned smoking within 3 metres (approx. 10 feet) from any public intake into a building including patios.. so any doors, windows, apartment patios (altho I don't think that is really enforced) etc, and there is no smoking on any restaurant patio. In Vancouver, the distance is twice that.

They did that in Indy some years ago & I think most people accept it.
The car ban was a surprise to me. I don't think it's healthy for children
to be subject to seconhand smoke in a car or a house. I agree that
it's a shame a law was needed to do the right thing for children.

[Pinot's Mom]

My you all have been busy since yesterday! OK -

Smoking in your car with children inside is now illegal here where I live. They have also banned smoking within 3 metres (approx. 10 feet) from any public intake into a building including patios.. so any doors, windows, apartment patios (altho I don't think that is really enforced) etc, and there is no smoking on any restaurant patio. In Vancouver, the distance is twice that.

I think this is FANTASTIC. I am not a smoker, and I am very allergic to it. It makes me incredibly ill. If someone wants to smoke, go ahead, but don't subject me to your second hand smoke because I don't want to breathe it in and get sick from it. There are dsignated smoking areas still, they are just farther away from the non-smoking public and that is a-ok with me. As for not smoking with children in the car - I think it's sad that a law needs to be passed for that, because it really should be common sense.

And herein, to me, lies the basic issue with smoking bans - there are MANY of us (ex-smokers and never smokers alike) who CANNOT TOLERATE smoke, second hand, first hand, or residual, due to illness, allergies, or any other sensitivities. So, when smokers scream about their rights being violated by limiting smoking, I don't sympathize. People can die or become seriously ill from smoke (smoker included); this is more than rights being violated. However, when there is no smoking allowed, the only "right" that is violated is the "right" of freedom to make yourself and those around you ill.

That being said - smoking in your car (as long as you're alone), in your home, on your property - I don't care. They're your lungs. I know smokers; I avoid their cars & their homes (when possible). They are welcome to smoke out back at my house, but don't make me clean up after it, either! I smoked for a long time; I never inflicted my addiction on anyone else, it's just not right.