The state of New Jersey now wants to ban smoking in your own car. Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange) introduced legislation which would prohibit smoking while driving.
McKeon, an anti-tobacco activist, cites a report from AAA which stated that one percent of 32,000 driver-distraction accidents were related to smoking.
In case math isn’t your strongest subject, that’s 320 accidents nationwide. How about the other 31,640 accidents?
Besides being completely stupid legislation, we already have laws against reckless and negligent driving. This law isn’t needed. And however you feel about smoking yourself, everyone has the right to smoke while sitting alone in their car. Just make a law that says you have to pay attention while driving, and be done with it.
Oh, wait, this is New Jersey, where nobody can drive, where people drive through red lights and stop at green lights…
NBC 10 News has more information.
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Nonsense Nation
Jul 25, 2005
How many accidents will result from the ticketing of smoking drivers? I bet more than the 320. DWS (Driving While Stupid) should be the law of the land. Keep people off of their phone, doing their makeup/shaving, and drinking that venti Starbuck’s latte all at the same time would be a better start…and I bet that causes more than 320 accidents per year as I have PERSONALLY seen two.
TechGnome
Jul 25, 2005
Crap… I’d better comment before that’s determines to be harmful to my health and outlawed.
Ok, first cell phones, now smoking… what’s next? How about the following: putting on makeup, shaving I have actualy seen these), eating, blinking, moving, breathing…. Did I cover it all? Before you know it, they will be outlawing tires on the car. “What!? You mean the reason people can drive is because of those tire thingies? Ban them! They’ll just lead to accidents anyways.”
Tg
N. Mallory
Jul 26, 2005
O.K. Well, I guess I’m an outsider here on this subject. While I don’t agree that it should be illegal to smoke in the privacy of your own car, I do think it should be illegal to smoke in a car where children are present.
I don’t think people should cel phone and drive either.
And I suppose some sort of consideration should be taken to putting a stop to putting on makeup, shaving, eating, and reading while driving. I actually saw a tray you can attach to your steering wheel to hold your Big Mac and Big Gulp while you’re chatting with your girlfriend about the moron putting make up on in the car ahead of you.
And I grew up in a city where drive-thru daquiri shops were the norm.
Personally, I think people need to focus more on the driving part and what’s going on around them and less on what’s going on inside the car.
Of course, this could just be the medication from the injuries I sustained from being rear-ended last week talking…
Damn Right Stupid
Jul 28, 2005
Ok first off we can smoke in our cars if we want to, it’s just about our only freedom left isnt’ it?? I mean come on, why do people smoke it’s becase the only reason is some people can’t quit they have been smoking for 20 years or even longer and they don’t plan on quitting smoking and other people are like well I’ve never had a Cigarette in my hole life well good for them, but for the ones who have been smoking for a long time it’s bull snot. Every body has the right to say well I’m going to smoke or not, it’s not a country that every body has to bow down and kiss the head persons fingers every five seconds, if it was that way I would be out of here. This country is going down hill you can’t even do hardly any thing any more. Thats all I have to say about it,
donna
Jul 29, 2005
I cannot believe people will stand for this! People have to start standing up for what they believe. Even if u are a nonsmoker or dont like smoking.. this is about “freedom” not smoking!! Pretty soon you’ll be told what to wear, how to act, what to eat!! Its terrible the way this country is going downhill. Smokers are outnumbered in many ways.. let them smoke while they drive its their privacy in their vehicle. Pull Over? another way to outcast them we’ll see folks pulled over meeting to smoke. Ridiculous!!! I wish people woudl stand up for the rights..
Jul 29, 2005
She Who Will Be Obeyed!
Aug 23, 2005
New Jersey bans smoking in private college dorms - IO ERROR
linda c
Sep 17, 2005
i like that idea iam smoker right try to do the stop smoking road . i started by cleaning my car and not allow smoking in my car .
brice
Oct 18, 2005
im a loser i hate to answer stupid questions like smoking in cars cuz i think well ukno wat nobody cares on wat i think haha so jux keep smokin neywhere yall want cuz im really gay n i dont care if i am
Non-Smoker
Jan 24, 2006
In case you people didn’t realized NJ is the #1 in USA with the highest Auto Insurance Rate? WHY? Distraction from smoking, drinking, eating, road rage, rushing, do make-up, making out, and changing clothes. Those distraction do lead to accident. Simple, BAN ‘EM all! That way, it will keep your eyes on the road and be more alert. Then the accients will be much less, then NJ won’t be #1 in USA with highest Auto Insruance Rate. SIMPLE! Like I see car bumber sticker says: “GET OFF THE CELL PHONE AND DRIVE!” They should make a new one “QUIT LOOKING FOR A LIGHTER AND DRIVE!” Therefore, I would support Smoking Ban in automobile. It would lead to other bans. God Bless America, eh?
Derraine
Apr 13, 2006
When will the cameras be put in our homes to see if we are smoking? I’m trying to quit but no one has the right to tell me what to put into my body. Is prohibition next? I can have an accident if I drink and drive not if I smoke and drive. Let’s not even get into cell phones. Where do these people come from???????
Shasta
Apr 26, 2006
This whole thing is stupid! Listen to the song, “NO MORE SMOKING!”, @ http://www.myspace.com/shastaman & buy my music of FREEDOM before it’s banned for being “Politically Incorrect!” Yours In Song, Shasta
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shasta
April
Jun 07, 2006
I can not believe NJ does not BAN smoking in the car with CHILDREN abord!! That is like murder and should be a crime!! Parents are really dumb and I see it daily. If you want to kill your self FINE but the kids have no choice. I agree we can get a little crazy with all our laws but we need to speak up for those who can’t!
REVA
Oct 25, 2006
IF I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS AND I ALLOW SMOKING IN THE OFFICE DOES THE NO
SMOKING LAW APPLY TO ME. CAN MY WORKERS SMOKE IN THE OFFICE? PLEASE
EXPLAIN ME THE LAW AND PLEASE SEND RESPONSE VIA EMAIL. THANK YOU
Tony
Dec 04, 2006
Here’s why NJ has the highest accidents: There are too many people here! The state is small, yet traffic is so bad, we measure distance in time, not miles. I was surprised to realize that NYC is less than 30 miles from where I live. It’s a 2 hour drive! And again, we’re a small state. The western counties get exposed to PA driving styles, the northeast are used to NYC driving styles, and the southern section gets Deleware. And then all of these different driving styles go out and interact. A lot of the drivers think the turn signal is optional, or they stop, then use the signal to tell you why, then they turn! The only thing NJ drivers do consistently is when pulling out on a main road, they make sure to cut off the last person in a line of cars. If there is no one behind you, you will be cut off. As far as protecting everyone from the evils of (fill in the blank with the scarecrow du jour), If you want to bubblewrap your family, that’s fine. Leave the rest of us out of it. America was not founded by people wanting to be safe. America was founded by people who didn’t want government bullying the people about how to live.
Me
Dec 29, 2006
OK . NJ Ban smoking all the way?
New Jersey’s excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $2.40 per pack.
New Jersey’s excise tax collection for the fiscal year ending June 2005: $780,657,000
Tobacco products sales tax collection for the fiscal year ending June 2005: $119,337,000
Thats over 1 MILLION for fiscal 2004
Master Settlement Agreement Payments Received
$1,580,657,852 has been paid to New Jersey through Fiscal Year 2005 since the Master Settlement Agreement was signed on November 23, 1998.
So, ban all smoking and increase the hownowners taxes?
KimmerZ
Jan 17, 2007
Half you people on here either need to learn to do a spell check or learn some damn English; when your done doing that, grow a brain and really think about the stupid dumb ass comments you’ve made here. Is it just me or are children posting on this thread?
What I do and don’t do in MY own car is my own damn business. If I don’t want to wear a seatbelt and fly out the window and die, that is MY choice, not the choice of congress or a bunch of people at the voting booths that don’t ride with me in my fricken car! These bans are BS and doing nothing more then clogging up our system. Take cigarettes out of drivers hands and see how many more accidents there are due to pissed off drivers on the road. I’m not a heavy smoker but when I am driving, hell yes I need a smoke to calm down from all of the retards out there on the road! Try learning how to drive, learning how to read and write English before you take away the rights of people in their cars doing nothing to bother you.
Ps…if I want to eat a Big Mac while driving and get secret sauce all over my blouse, that too is my perogative!
Next it will be illegal to give your man a BJ while he’s driving! Would be funny to see how they’d write that law up!
Vinny
Jan 19, 2007
First off, this is an absolutely atrocious piece of reporting done to begin with. One major piece of information that is left out is the fact this law is attempting to get passed in order to outlaw smoking in your car ONLY if you have a child under the age of 16 in your vehicle. It is aimed more at curbing the harmful effects of second hand smoke to children. If you are against that then you need to take a good long look at your own life and re-establish your priorities. The worst part is that people eat up the trash reporting of sites like these that blatantly leave things out in order to sway opinions. It seems like the only reason for the article was to simply take a pot-shot at New Jersey. Granted there are much worse things we should be focused on in legislation but the health of our up-and-coming generations should NOT be forgotten.
Roy
Jan 19, 2007
The first thing that comes to mind here is who is getting paid? This has got to be one of the most stupid laws I have ever heard of. I am a smoker, but when I am in the car with non smokers or children, I do not smoke. That is my PERSONAL choice. Keyword there is Personal. They wanted to stop smoking in public places, alright, I can live with that. But once you grant the Gov’t access to tell you what you can and cannot do in your Private Personal property, the flood gates are open. If this passes how far behind are our Homes?
If we are going to pass this law, then we need to pass others as well. How about the random searches of homes for foods that are unhealthy for our kids. For example, fried foods. Will I be sitting at my dinner table one day eating dinner with my family only to have my door kicked in and be arrested for serving my family fried chicken? If we pass this law the scenario I just gave is possible. Don’t laugh and say NO. If you mentioned 5-10 years ago that a law like this would even be up for consideration you would have said the same.Once you grant access into private property you are setting precedent. If this law passes, save this comment and see how far off I am.
cheryl
Jan 19, 2007
This law is too Big Brother-ish. What ever happened to free will? If it’s good enough for God, it should be good enough for NJ!!! Are we to become a state of too laws?? Law enforcement already picks & chooses which laws they enforce and when. I have seen police driving AND taking on THEIR cell phones! And what if someone doesn’t smoke in the car with their kids, but has the kdis in the car at a routine traffic stop & there are butts in the ashtray?? This law is insane!
Vinny
Jan 19, 2007
This law was actually first considered about 5 years ago, then again in 2005. The only reason it is likely to pass is due to the child issue which was not included the past few times. And I highly doubt that this will be a slippery slope into invading our homes for food. Last I checked, foods weren’t a direct cause of multiple types of cancer as well as Emphysema. There is nothing worse then when people decide to start talking off the cuff and stating “facts” which they simply believe because someone told them. Go study some law or politics before you start stating what one law will or will not lead to. Do your research, then comment. It may take some extra time, but people will respect your opinion so much more.
John
Jan 19, 2007
I am a NJ smoker/driver, i have a daughter of 15. I have many family members under this age.
Ok, i know you people who think its a good idea to prevent smoking around the kids, great im all for that part.
Heres what im against:
If this law passes and you are pulled over for smoking with a child under 16, you will get arrested (for disorderly conduct) , your car gets impounded, your children are subject to accompany you do the police station. You will go to court (kids too probably) and get up to a 30 day jail and $500 fine.
Ok lets look at the impact such an event will have on the child/children:
They will see their parent/guardian arrested like a criminal for doing something they have grown up watching them do at home , all their life so far!
What psycological impact is this going to have on them? Do you think this will benefit the kids more than the short time they spend with a smoker in a car?
Also most smokers have the car window open , allowing fresh air in the entire time. (even in the coldest temperatures) Even smokers cant stand to smoke with the windows up, as its to much for them to breath!
The children of smokers are exposed to more smoke in the home than in a car, and for a much longer duration.
But reguardless, its the resposibility of the parent/guardian to protect the children, not the state! The state is supposed to care for kids who have no one to protect them.
Im sorry, but this law is not going to do anything for the children, its only going to bring family problems to some families, or cause the kids to start questioning the judgements of their parents/guardians if they have been doing the right thing all along.
Not to mention how this violates our privacy. I can see many people will find ways to prevent their children from being seen in the vehicle before they give up smoking in the car!
Anyone seen a petition on this? I’ll look, and start one if there isnt one already.
Vesko
Jan 20, 2007
You americans are losing ground under your own feet… U were always proud of your freedom and always state what america is founded on and such stuff… and now u cannot even remember or even hear about all that laws and restrictions that hang over your heads… I’m from Bulgaria, a country that was under communsim just 20 years ago, but now we here are a thousand times more free people than u, who came here about 1989 to teach us what freedom is… I think u should do something or reconsider your standpoints of national pride… I can say what i say because i was twice there, in NJ, for 5 months… And another thing – well, most of you need to pay more attention to your english classes, because even the american guy who critisized your knowledge of english, he also doesn’t know that “you’re” and “your” is not one and the same… As you can see, my english is not my mother’s language, and still I know it better than most of you, since there couldn’t be a single mistake found in my message, and there are thousands of them in each and evry one of yours… u have some catching up to do – both in freedom-understanding and english grammar… Respect…
Vesko
Jan 20, 2007
i meant ‘each and every’, i wrote evry because my keybord has an opinon…
Jim
Jan 20, 2007
What next shall we begin removing children from the homes of smokers and make them wards of the state? Shall we begin rounding all smokers up and place them in concentration camps? Shall this country erupt into another civil war and have more of our children die in our streets fighting each other?
How easily people all follow the lies spun by the drug industry so they can increase profit. How blind the American public has become to the injustices and how quickly they can get out of hand. Jumping from one bandwagon to another without so much as knowing where the idea and the money is coming from.
Those standing by the sidelines remind me of another group of people that stood by during the persecution of a groups. One of the survivors was quoted in an interview many years later and he said “When they came for this group I said nothing and when they came for that group again I said nothing. Then to my horror they came for me and it was too late to say anything.†Will YOU speak out to protect the rights of your fellow Americans or will YOU just stand by till they come for YOU.
If you want to know how bad it all actually is and what you’re allowing and helping to do to this country find the movie “Freedom to Fascism†by Hollywood director Aaron Russo and watch it.
I hope it’s not too late for America to become the proud country of the FREE once again.
Vinny
Jan 20, 2007
Wow. Got a little out of control there. You talk about buying into the lies of this place and that, but just because the opinion one holds is not your own, that makes it a lie? If you truly believe that we are a Fascist country then you need to do some homework. I am currently a History/Political Science professor, and please let me tell you that there is a big difference between the few fascist regimes that have existed throughout the years and America right now. And for once, step outside yourself and look at the other point of view. You want everyone to stand up and speak out for their freedoms and their rights, but who is there to speak out for a young child’s health when their parent cannot, or will not, stop smoking. Its fine for the parent to say that they are fine, but 20-30 years down the road when the child has developed a life-threatening cancer or illnes due to second-hand smoke, or first hand if they picked up the habit they saw their whole life, who is there to protect them then? Just think about both sides of every issue before you run off screaming that your freedoms and rights have been impeached.
Jack
Jan 23, 2007
The one gentleman attacking and putting down others for their view points should know having a title doesn’t make you smarter or superior to others. Nor does it make all their points wrong because they are not yours. They are entitled to put in their opinions too… it’s called freedom.
It seems that some feel as long as the “right†that is being disposed of is not one that they themselves use it’s ok to take it from another. How about we ban Alcohol again? Lots of second hand damage going on there in the streets and behind the doors of homes. While we are at it how about banning professional sports and organized religion. I don’t do or agree with any of those things so lets ban them all because I’m part of the “ME†generation.
How about circumcision? A permanent decision forced upon a male baby against his will he must live with for the rest of his life. Who is protecting them from a medically proven unnecessary body alteration they are unable to refuse. A choice a parent forces upon them without any concern about if they want it or the repercussions if it goes wrong causing life altering harm.
But how would that make those that are for these smoking bans feel if the things you do and/or enjoy in your life were banned? A little abused? Stripped of your freedom and rights?
Everyone should remember what goes around eventually comes around and usually in a manner that bites those who started it.
John
Jan 26, 2007
Its fine for the parent to say that they are fine, but 20-30 years down the road when the child has developed a life-threatening cancer or illnes due to second-hand smoke
Where can i find the statictics for the % of americans who have health issues solely on second hand smoke?
I come from a smoking family, its a large family, but not everyone is a smoker. My grandparents were smokers and raised 5 childern (my father, aunts and uncles) My frandmother died from lung cancer, true, but none of her children were ever affected to the point it became a health issue in there lives ( to date) All still living.When i became a smoker, no one was a smoker in my parents house. I was the first, and exposed my father a second time in his life to second hand smoke. He is in his late 60′s and has yet to have any health issues as a result of the many years he was bombarded with it.
I just dont see how this ‘no smoking in the car’ law is going to be a benefit to the children of smoking parents. They will still go home and have a longer exposure than any car trip.
All i see is a new source of state revenue at the families expense!
John
Jan 26, 2007
Quoted:
“Its fine for the parent to say that they are fine, but 20-30 years down the road when the child has developed a life-threatening cancer or illnes due to second-hand smoke” -end quote.
Where can i find the statictics for the % of americans who have health issues solely on second hand smoke?
I come from a smoking family, its a large family, but not everyone is a smoker. My grandparents were smokers and raised 5 childern (my father, aunts and uncles) My frandmother died from lung cancer, true, but none of her children were ever affected to the point it became a health issue in there lives ( to date) All still living.When i became a smoker, no one was a smoker in my parents house. I was the first, and exposed my father a second time in his life to second hand smoke. He is in his late 60’s and has yet to have any health issues as a result of the many years he was bombarded with it.
I just dont see how this ‘no smoking in the car’ law is going to be a benefit to the children of smoking parents. They will still go home and have a longer exposure than any car trip.
All i see is a new source of state revenue at the families expense!
?????
Feb 01, 2007
While I do agree that the main reason why this law was brought about is stupid, that’s not the problem; the smoke from the tobacco stays on your car seats (yes, even if you have the window down) and still gets at whoever may be in the car with you even if you’re not smoking while they are in there. It’s the same with your furniture at home. And even if it’s not adversely affecting many other people, it still smells terrible for a very long time. One last thing: Even if it’s not affecting them, you’re still spending money on killing yourself.
Anonymous
Feb 09, 2007
that’s not the problem; the smoke from the tobacco stays on your car seats (yes, even if you have the window down)
What?? Your telling me its not the smoke thats the problem, its the residue left on the car’s interior?? If thats your belief, you dont have a clue! Unless your passengers are naked and wet, how can this residue affect them?
Or are you saying the smoke lingers on the car’s interior surfaces, just waiting until someone inhales it?
And even if it’s not adversely affecting many other people, it still smells terrible for a very long time.
Yea, if you never clean, but if thats the case, the smell of cigarette smoke would be the least concern as smells go.
John
Feb 09, 2007
that’s not the problem; the smoke from the tobacco stays on your car seats (yes, even if you have the window down)
What?? Your telling me its not the smoke thats the problem, its the residue left on the car’s interior?? If thats your belief, you dont have a clue! Unless your passengers are naked and wet, how can this residue affect them?
Or are you saying the smoke lingers on the car’s interior surfaces, just waiting until someone inhales it?
And even if it’s not adversely affecting many other people, it still smells terrible for a very long time.
Yea, if you never clean, but if thats the case, the smell of cigarette smoke would be the least concern as smells go.
jen
Feb 23, 2007
My personal opinion is that if they ban smoking in the car then there will be more wrecks. Let’s not forget that when someone needs a nicotine fix and can’t have it they tend to get kind of cranky. Expecially if there are children in the back seat. O.m.g can you imagine? Children in the backseat is stressful enough and then you have been stuck in traffic for like an hour and a half also very stressful the radio sux and on top of all of that you can’t have a cig? Yeah that sounds safer to me. The children won’t die from second hand smoke or a car wreck becasue the driver was preoccupied with smoking but by the hands of their own mother. How sad.
Boogyman
Feb 27, 2007
yeah
Claire
Mar 14, 2007
I would like to say that I believe that John made a good point. Parents are responsible for the wellbeing of their children, not the state. If the state wants to interfere in the wellbeing of children on one issue, they should at least be consistent and take all aspects of a child’s wellbeing into account. Money for food, clothing, school, recreational activities…
I understand this sounds a bit far fetched, but it isn’t just or fair to step in on only some issues. From a parental standpoint, can you allow your children to do some things in some places, but not in others? No, you need consistency. And like I said, it sounds far fetched, but the state shouldn’t jump in on some places and not others. They can protect the health of children in the car, but not at their homes. They want to keep them from inhaling second hand smoke on the road, but they have yet to come up with a system to properly care for abused children. I am sure a beaten, starved, malnourished or psychologically abused child’s last concern is secondhand smoke.
Anonymous
Apr 14, 2007
thats soo out of control who ever is doing this is that your GAY
Anonymous
Jun 07, 2007
I am so discusted with NJ driver’s right now, I have never been in an accident before in my life and now it seems that these young little girls that are getting their license are trying to kill me. Tonight at the WaWa I was backing out of my parking space and this little girl desides to speed up behind me (I see her coming so I slow down to almost a stop) She had the balls to slam on her brakes right behind my truck and blow the f@@cking horn at me. She refused to move and started to yell at me like it was my fault she is stupid or something. At this time I casually get out of my car and walk over to her, She rolled her window up and giggles a little. I figured I would show her how pissed I was at this time and start beating on her window (very hard) I told her to )in not such nice words) to get out of the car and I would show her what happens when little girls are stupid. she tells me she is going to call the cops on me so I (not so calmly) told her to go ahead it would not be the first time I spent time in jail (I haven’t really but she did not need to know that). her face started to look at little worried and she started digging in her purse for the cell. OH my goodness she yells I don’t even have my phone. Throws the car in drive and speeds back out of the parking lot in the same manner she came in. I went back to my car and lite up a cigarette. This is why people SMOKE IN THEIR CARS. I will SMOKE in my car as long as I am paying for it. No one will ever stop this from happening. Law or no law by the time I get pulled over for it the cigarette will be out and evidence distord. then what will they do? NOTHING because they can not prove I was smoking even if they can smell it the phissical cigarette will be gone. F-This I’m smoking, I have the be able to do something relaxing in my car because some of the other driver’s just stress me out. Thanks for listening and any comments are welcome.
Cheryl
some russian guy
Jun 09, 2007
i guess freedom wasn’t really what i expected to find when i moved to this country but this is getting pretty close to communist russia. it started out ok, but then those in power kept trying to find new ways to get richer. looks to me like in a few years, we’ll have tanks in the streets. i guess it doesn’t matter though, since we’re supposed to get squashed by an asteroid in 7 years, but more likely, W will start a “nukular” war even sooner.
W Holden
Jan 11, 2008
The best solution is to move out of NJ. You could also make your kids walk everywhere. Loony commies have taken over the gov’t. Screw the border, let the criminals enter, but don’t smoke that cigarette as it kills everything in a 10 mile radius. Vote out of office the asses who introduce the legislation. America is gone. Freedom is no longer yours. Goodbye America.
Eek
Sep 01, 2011
THIS IS NOT about Health. Its about keeping that cigarette out of your mouth for as long as THEY (Usually a democrat) Can.
If they pass this, I fully intend to still smoke in my car, NO ONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO in my private property.