Senate Bill 415 - Thank You For Not Smoking....

By now most of us are aware of the dangers of tobacco use.  Surgeon General warnings, scientific studies, or perhaps the illness of a loved-one has made us all acutely aware of exactly why smoking is detrimental to your health.  But, people still light up on a regular basis - a choice that is theirs to make.  However, what happens when another individual is affected by a smoker's choice?  And what happens if that individual is only in the first grade?

Senate Bill 415, seeks to make smoking in a vehicle with a child under the age of eight illegal and a primary offense, meaning that a police officer would only need to observe an adult smoking in the presence of a child in order to pull them over and issue a fine. 



MAIF does not condone smoking for those under the age of 18.  However, we do have a sense of humor and this picture is HILARIOUS.



Proponents gave compelling statistics as to why the legislation is needed.  Second-hand smoke is linked to a myriad of diseases in children including ear infections, asthma, and some childhood cancers.  It's believable that in the confines of a vehicle the chances of a child being susceptible to second-hand smoke is very real.  In fact, champions of SB 415 pointed to an EPA study that found in smoker vehicles with a slightly opened window, the air quality was over three times higher than what the EPA considers toxic.  In a vehicle with the windows completely shut the toxins were ten times higher.

If you're a non-smoker, you might be thinking that SB 415 makes perfect sense.  However opposition to the bill argued that SB 415 is trying to unsuccessfully replace common sense and responsible parenting.  Opponents argued that government currently has no way to distinguish other "risky" behaviors that can affect a child's health.  For instance, government can't dictate the types of foods that parents feed their children, or whether or not they've applied suntan lotion before a day at the beach.  The opposition pointed to a slippery slope of government interferences in our everyday lives and noted that the passage of this legislation would only open the door for more anti-smoking legislation.

Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, and Puerto Rico have already passed similar legislation.  And it wasn't too long ago that Maryland took aim at non-smokers rights in restaurants, bars, and other social establishments.  Does SB 415 step over the line from concerned government to Big Brother?  Thankfully, that's not for us to decide - but it's certainly an interesting question on the role that government plays in our lives.