One of our state senators wants to put an end to the act of smoking with young children in the car and he has senate support for a bill that would make it illegal. Only a few states have similar smoking bans, including Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Utah and others listed below, and Florida could be next.
Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, proposed a new bill - SB 548 - which would ban smoking in cars when children under the age of 13 are present. Concern over child health is what inspired the bill, as secondhand smoke is linked to causing higher occurrences of inner ear infections, lower respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, and other health problems in children. Janelle Middents with the American Lung Association of Central Florida also adds that children generally don’t have much control over their indoor environments, so it is important to take precautions when it comes to exposing them to secondhand smoke, whether at home or in the car.
So far, Clemens’ bill has a supporting majority in Senate. Next it will be put to another vote by a Senate subcommittee. If the bill is passed and becomes a state law, it will take effect starting on Oct. 1, 2015, and those caught smoking in cars with young children will be given a non-moving violation with fines and fees up to $100.
