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A movement to ban smoking in cars when children are present is taking hold throughout the nation and beyond. In KSL's view, Utah ought to be at the forefront of this effort to protect children from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
It is why we support passage of Senate Bill 43.
The measure making its way through the legislature would make it against the law to smoke in a vehicle if a child age five or younger is in the car strapped to a seat. The fine would be $45.
Last week, Bangor, Maine, reportedly, became the first city in the nation to impose such a smoking ban. And, like Utah, legislators in a host of states have similar bills before them. Even in Australia a proposed smoking ban is making headlines. There it's estimated 48,000 children have asthma as a direct result of exposure to the passive smoke of their parents.
As the U.S. Surgeon General reported last summer, "infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke."
So, yes, Utah lawmakers should pass Senate Bill 43. Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 carcinogens. People who flagrantly expose innocent children to anything that dangerous should be held accountable.
