Ohioans will no longer be able to smoke in cars carrying children age 6 or younger if a recently proposed bill passes. Democratic Senator Charleta Tavares is sponsoring Senate Bill 27 and feels it will decrease health risks to young children. Tavares was also the sponsor of the bill which made smoking in public spaces illegal in Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch reports that multiple hearings are anticipated on the bill, which is garnering bi-partisan support.
Here are some details about the pending legislation:
* Republican Senator Tom Patton shared his concerns about enforcement with the Dispatch. While Patton voiced his initial support for the bill, he is concerned that law enforcement officers will not easily be able to tell if a child is 5, 6 or even 7 years old. In 2004 Tavares lead the charge to end smoking in public spaces. Two years later a statewide ban was approved by the voters.
* Republican Senator Frank LaRose told the Dispatch that he would like to work on the young child smoking ban bill with Tavares and feels a parental education component should be included in the final legislation, according to the Columbus Dispatch. LaRose also acknowledged that some lawmakers will see the car smoking ban as an infringement upon personal freedom.
* The Associated Press reports that Tavares feels smoking inside care is very dangerous due to the high-concentration of secondhand smoke. The Senator noted similar car smoking bans in other states to promote the need for mirrored legislation in Ohio. States with car smoking bans when young children are passengers include California, Louisiana and Maine, according to the Youngstown Vindicator.
* Breathing Association President Marie Collart feels the pending legislation would promote lung health and prevent earaches. Collart told the Columbus Dispatch that she experienced a lot of earaches during her childhood and had a smoker for a father. The Columbus-based organization president feels that trapping a child in a vehicle filled with smoke is a form of child abuse.
* SB27 language defines smoking as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette or burning tobacco product plant, according to the Ohio General Assembly website.
* The state legislative website states first time offenders are subject to a $500 fine. Subsequent violations of the law carry another $500 and an additional $250 per violation.
* Tavares feels that when adults do not put children first, legislation is needed, according to the Youngstown Vindicator. Tavares stated her support for an individual's right to smoke, as long as the act does not put others in danger during bill hearing testimony. The senator also testified during the Senate's Highway and Transportation Committee hearing that infants and minors are not making a decision to smoke, yet may suffer significant health issues because of exposure to secondhand smoke.
83 comments