No butts: Bill to stop drivers from lighting up behind the wheel

[Doglips]

No butts: Bill to stop drivers from lighting up behind the wheel

By JEFF LINKOUS
Associated Press Writer

July 24, 2005, 11:11 AM EDT

TRENTON, N.J. -- Ashtrays have been disappearing in cars like fins on Cadillacs, and so could smoking while driving in New Jersey, under a measure introduced in the Legislature.

Although the measure faces long odds, it still has smokers incensed and tearing into the idea as a Big Brother intrusion that threatens to take away one of the few places they can enjoy their habit.

"The day a politician wants to tell me I can't smoke in my car, that's the day he takes over my lease payments," said John Cito, a financial planner from Hackensack with a taste for $20 cigars.

Those cigars, pipes and cigarettes would become no-nos for drivers. Offenders would be stung with a fine of up to $250, under the measure, whose sponsor said it's designed more to improve highway safety than protect health.

Assemblyman John McKeon, a tobacco opponent whose father died of emphysema, sponsored the legislation. He cites a AAA-sponsored study on driver distractions in which the automobile association found that of 32,000 accidents linked to distraction, one percent were related to smoking.

In the past, McKeon has also sponsored legislation to prohibit smoking in college dormitory rooms.

His latest measure, co-sponsored by fellow Democrat, Assemblywoman Lorretta Weinberg, comes on the heels of a proposal to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and the state's casinos. The smoking while driving ban shifts the smoking debate to private property.

The measure, introduced last month just before lawmakers' summer break, faces some improbable odds for passing.

Some lawmakers may fear the bill is frivolous compared with more pressing issues like taxes, said political analyst David Rebovich.

And there's this to consider: Traffic safety groups acknowledge motorists now widely ignore the state's year-old law against using hand-held cell phones, so why would smoking be any different?

Mitchell Sklar of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said police departments may balk at enforcing such a law.

"In general, we'd rather not try to incrementally look at every single behavior and make those a violation," he said.

Some states, including New Jersey, have considered putting the brakes on smoking while children are in the car. But none have gone for an outright ban on smoking while driving, according to Washington, D.C.-based Action on Smoking and Health, the country's oldest anti-tobacco organization.

Earlier this year, lawmakers in Germany proposed a ban on smoking while driving as a traffic safety measure.

Smokers, feeling like easy targets, say enough already. They argue they've been forced outside office buildings, run off the grounds of public facilities, and asked to pony up more in per-pack excise taxes when states feel a budget squeeze.

"With smoking, it's becoming increasingly fashionable to target legislation or prohibitions," said George Koodray, a member of the Metropolitan Cigar Society, a 100-strong group that meets in Paterson for dinner and a smoke.

A driving ban, said suburban Chicago smoker Garnet Dawn Scheuer, is "completely asinine. It's unbelievable that they want to try it. People have been smoking in their cars since cars were invented."

Scheuer, who tracks anti-smoking measures in the Midwest and Northeast for the New Hampshire-based Smokers Club Inc., disputes the distraction argument.

"You don't have to look at a cigarette to light it," she said.

Cito, who's also a member of the cigar society, was more blunt.

"They put it all under the ruse of this other crap. It's government interference. What's next my house?" he asked.

Maybe, said Assemblyman McKeon, "If your house was on four wheels and going 70 mph, you're right I would."

[Thrawn]

holy crap these people are nuts, how am I supposed to quit smoking when they tempt me to defy them?

[Doglips]

Ive tried off and on...found that freaking patch so hard to keep lit.

I just have to agree with the one guy...when they pay my car payments..then they can make rules about what I can do inside my car.

I quit smoking Oct 1, 2003 :right:

[Johnny_Revolver]

I gave up after 30 years or something, I used the money I spent a week on cigs for repayments for a new car, I can`t start up again now! I liked them too, miss them a bit still after a few years. Can not stand the smell of them now, which is wierd cause I gave up for 2 years in the 80`s and didnt care, ppl could smoke in my car and didnt bother me, now? horrible stink, maybe its the cheap wheezers ppl smoke now.

[Big Dog]

I'm glad I never started smoking - it would really cut into my ammo budget . . .

[solar]

In MA, you're no longer allowed to smoke in bars - which I think is great. ...but smoking in your car?!

What's going to happen to the Cheech & Chong movie skits!?

[ruger22com]

I quit cold 9 years ago..had pretty good motivation in the form of a massive heart attack. Before that I swore I could never quit.

I think though they should quit worring about people smoking in cars and worry about the real problem..driving and talking on a cell phone.

I have one and don't use it driving (The wife is usually with me and I hand it to her)...at least once a week I almost hit, or get hit by some idiot yapping on there cell phone while driving. They are worse than drunks! :cheer:
Bob

Originally Posted by ruger22com

the real problem..driving and talking on a cell phone.

:right: some people can't even drive without the added distraction of the cellphone

[BattleRifleG3]

Ok, so one percent of accidents caused by distraction involved people smoking... I'll betcha it's higher than that actually, simply because the percentage of people smoking is probably higher than 1%.

I'm no fan of smoking, but this is moronic.

[Stopper]

more big brother BS from PRNJ. Watch it, it'll be coming to a neighborhood near you soon!!!!!!

[Dallas]

Eating and drinking (coffee and soda, etc.) will be next.

[Gyrene]

Every "BAN . . . " Law takes another freedom away! Every time a Government passes a law the people lose another freedom! It is no different to make smoking laws or make gun laws! We're ALL in the same boat!

I started shooting at about 6 years old, and centerfire with a .30-06 at 8 1/2 years old, and I am still at it.

I started smoking occasionally at about 6 or 7 years old, with my older brother whenever we found a loose unopened pack. I started smoking regularly at about 19, out of sheer boredom. I quit smoking permanently at about 35 years old near 15 years after I really started. 10 years later, I was asked to light a cigarrette for a lady, I did, and man am I glad I quit, as it tasted like $#!+ !

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