Bangor Makes It Illegal to Smoke in Cars

[miimaa]

Do you smoke miimaa??

Yup. I drink too. I also have a five-year-old grandson and NEVER smoke around him because he is too important to me. When he is at my house I go outside to smoke. Most restaurants here have a no-smoking ban and that is fine because I have only smoked for two years and the smoke used to bother me too. Again, this is not about smoking alone. The citizens have to be attentive to how much governing we will allow.

For example take guns. Guns kill people (no they don't - people kill people). Since SOME people use guns unsafely should we ALL be subject to laws that take away our rights to own guns?

Four-wheelers and snowmobiles - many bad accidents have happened with these vehicles. Should they be taken away from us?

Senior citizens driving - many bad accidents have happend. Should their licenses be taken away?

Television and sexuality - gets worse all the time but don't YOU want to make the decision about what to watch and allow your family to watch or do you want to let "Uncle Sugar" decide for you?

I am not saying THIS LAW is a bad thing - it's a good thing but it ignores the fact that a sensible and responsible person does not even need this to be a law.

 

[calus_3]

They have strong evidence that the combination of raising cigarette prices through taxation, along with creating strict laws on where people are allowed to smoke, is effective in reducing the number of smokers.

I say--go for it.

The people in America without health insurance want to raise my taxes to provide them with healthcare....I say let's levy a $5 per pack health tax on the sale of cigarettes and use it to offset the huge costs of tobacco use on the medicade and medicare systems. Then maybe it will be easier to afford the costs of the uninsured.

Cal

 

[RoughlyCollie]

I was up in NH, which doesn't have a helmet law, one summer with a friend of mine who is a cardiologist. I remarked that if he lived in NH, he'd probably have chosen to be a brain surgeon because that's where the big money is.

He said, no, he'd have gotten rich being a funeral director.

Everyone knows smoking is bad but I am really against the government regulating our safety to the extent it is an invasion of privacy. Same with the helmet law and motorcycles. Any idiot knows he's safer with a helmet on but it should be your CHOICE. I'm not saying it's a good thing to smoke in an enclosed car with your baby there but the government does not need to be our mother.

 

[miimaa]

Have you SEEN the morons driving down the road with children in the car while smoking? This issue is about the fact that some people are too stupid...well, maybe that is misleading.....too careless and selfish not to refrain.

The issue is precisely about those that smoke while in the car...it isn't about me, NOT smoking while my kids are in the car. There is no law needed to keep someone from not doing something dumb.

For the record though, I don't think they should be fined at all. I think they should be arrested for child abuse.

Cal

I keep saying the same thing. I AM NOT AGAINST THIS LAW - no one should smoke around kids.

 

[calus_3]

Yup. I drink too. I also have a five-year-old grandson and NEVER smoke around him because he is too important to me. When he is at my house I go outside to smoke. Most restaurants here have a no-smoking ban and that is fine because I have only smoked for two years and the smoke used to bother me too. Again, this is not about smoking alone. The citizens have to be attentive to how much governing we will allow.

For example take guns. Guns kill people (no they don't - people kill people). Since SOME people use guns unsafely should we ALL be subject to laws that take away our rights to own guns?

Four-wheelers and snowmobiles - many bad accidents have happened with these vehicles. Should they be taken away from us?

Senior citizens driving - many bad accidents have happend. Should their licenses be taken away?

Television and sexuality - gets worse all the time but don't YOU want to make the decision about what to watch and allow your family to watch or do you want to let "Uncle Sugar" decide for you?

I am not saying THIS LAW is a bad thing - it's a good thing but it ignores the fact that a sensible and responsible person does not even need this to be a law.

The law isn't aimed at the person like you who goes outside or never smokes around their children. It is aimed at the person who is so self-centered and stupid that they won't do those things.

The mere fact that the law is necessary dictates that there are people so careless with their children that they will smoke with them in confined spaces. The law is there to address the people who don't have the sense.

You seem to be complaining about the law because it is going to be applied to people who don't break the law. Kind of like me saying "well, I don't agree with the law against manufacturing methamphetamines in a residential home where kids are...because a decent, law abiding citizen wouldn't do such a thing". The law is for the criminals, not the law abiding citizens.

Cal

 

[miimaa]

Right, parents with kids should be arrested if they smoke in the home with the children. Good point.

The point about drugs and rape is that some people will say "what I do within the confines of my home and car is my business". Not so say the laws against rape, murder, robbery, drug possession, etc. That was all I was saying. Simply excusing your careless, wreckless, harmless behavior around your children because you are within the confines of your personally owned space doesn't absolve you from responsilbity. You being the general smoking population.

Cal

If I smoke outside in my yard should my neighbor call the cops because he gets a whiff every once in awhile? (Personally, I think he should get the he!! out of my yard and use his own bar-b-que grill.) If you like loud music and it really causes me a problem because I have a hearing aid should I lobby for some kind of control over loud music??? I am not advocating for people to do 'whatever' they want in the their house but for us to be careful about how far into our house the government gets. If I am a normal, law-abiding citizen and if I want to sit in my yard and smoke and drink a beer that is legal. If my neighbor doesn't like he should stay in his own yard.

 

[Buzz Mills]

I think people have a right to decide if they want to drive illegally in the car pool lane; and in the same breath, I advocate that the state adopt the means to catch these people driving illegally in the car pool lane. At $336 per violation in this area, it would help fill the state's coffers. Yes, of course I also want cameras at all the lights to catch the illegal left turn against the red light violators. There has been more than once that they have gotten in my way (I only broad-sided one of them). Make the fines heavy enough, and the enforcement good enough, and I guarantee you that it will cut down on the number of violators; but that is the only way they are going to stop doing it.

 

[2sisters]

The law is aimed at chiseling away our rights little by little. Give it time, we will be socialist soon. Yes smoking is dangerous and shouldn't be done around kids before anyone jumps on me. i don't smoke around mine, actually I recently quit smoking but thats besides the point. I don't like them around it period. But the government is constantly over stepping it's bounds with us and we take it. What's next, putting boxes on our TV's that only let us watch so much, censoring books, not letting us drive with kids at all? Thats way more dangerous than smoking around them. have you seen the nuts on the road? Banning foods-oh wait, they have started that. If the government care SOOOO much for our kids health then why don't they explore more alternative fuels that do not emit as much pollution, crack down on pollution from factories and cars? Our air is so polluted I don't even think 2nd hand smoke is the most dangerous thing you will breathe today.
Calus I am suprised at you, I would think you would oppose more government control. tsk tsk .

 

[miimaa]

The law isn't aimed at the person like you who goes outside or never smokes around their children. It is aimed at the person who is so self-centered and stupid that they won't do those things.

The mere fact that the law is necessary dictates that there are people so careless with their children that they will smoke with them in confined spaces. The law is there to address the people who don't have the sense.

You seem to be complaining about the law because it is going to be applied to people who don't break the law. Kind of like me saying "well, I don't agree with the law against manufacturing methamphetamines in a residential home where kids are...because a decent, law abiding citizen wouldn't do such a thing". The law is for the criminals, not the law abiding citizens.

Cal

Where did I complain about the law? I didn't. What I am complaining about is government over-regulating our lives.

If I could have my own "stupid people" law it would be that any woman who has x children with x different fathers AND marries none AND lives on public assistance should commit to a birth control program UNTIL she is able to support all X children financially on her own (OR with the x fathers' assistance). Same for men - if a man has x number of children with x number of women AND marries none he should commit to birth control until he is able to provide financially for ALL children.

 

[miimaa]

I think people have a right to decide if they want to drive illegally in the car pool lane; and in the same breath, I advocate that the state adopt the means to catch these people driving illegally in the car pool lane. At $336 per violation in this area, it would help fill the state's coffers. Yes, of course I also want cameras at all the lights to catch the illegal left turn against the red light violators. There has been more than once that they have gotten in my way (I only broad-sided one of them). Make the fines heavy enough, and the enforcement good enough, and I guarantee you that it will cut down on the number of violators; but that is the only way they are going to stop doing it.

:laugh: ha ha... Don't I pay the same taxes for road maintenance as you?? Therefore I can drive in the carpool lane if I want (he he).

 

[Jeana (DP)]

The law in Louisiana has put an age limit on it. 12 and under only. After that, free game.

I smoke but not in my car or home and the changes haven't had an impact on me at all. It's MY habit, not my childrens.

I applaud you for that!!!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[calus_3]

If I smoke outside in my yard should my neighbor call the cops because he gets a whiff every once in awhile? (Personally, I think he should get the he!! out of my yard and use his own bar-b-que grill.) If you like loud music and it really causes me a problem because I have a hearing aid should I lobby for some kind of control over loud music??? I am not advocating for people to do 'whatever' they want in the their house but for us to be careful about how far into our house the government gets. If I am a normal, law-abiding citizen and if I want to sit in my yard and smoke and drink a beer that is legal. If my neighbor doesn't like he should stay in his own yard.

To answer your questions:
1) No, a whiff of smoke outside shouldn't warrant the cops
2) Yes, I completely support loud music and noise ordinances....been there done that.

I mean no offense by this but when you described sitting in your yard drinking beer and smoking, I envisioned an episode of cops with the lady in the daisey duke, midriff shirt, holding a kid on one hip, a pabst blue ribbon in the other hand, and having a marlboro dangling on the bottom lip....was standing in the yard yelling at the neighbors who are stopping to look!

Cal

 

[miimaa]

To answer your questions:
1) No, a whiff of smoke outside shouldn't warrant the cops
2) Yes, I completely support loud music and noise ordinances....been there done that.

I mean no offense by this but when you described sitting in your yard drinking beer and smoking, I envisioned an episode of cops with the lady in the daisey duke, midriff shirt, holding a kid on one hip, a pabst blue ribbon in the other hand, and having a marlboro dangling on the bottom lip....was standing in the yard yelling at the neighbors who are stopping to look!

Cal

Ha ha...!!! Sort of but if I wore Daisy Duke shorts I'd probably get a blight ticket!!

 

[calus_3]

Where did I complain about the law? I didn't. What I am complaining about is government over-regulating our lives.

If I could have my own "stupid people" law it would be that any woman who has x children with x different fathers AND marries none AND lives on public assistance should commit to a birth control program UNTIL she is able to support all X children financially on her own (OR with the x fathers' assistance). Same for men - if a man has x number of children with x number of women AND marries none he should commit to birth control until he is able to provide financially for ALL children.

Well, it seems you are arguing against this law as being unnecessary....using people to whom the law doesn't even apply (those that DO NOT smoke with kids in the car) of why the law is unnecessary. Maybe I misinterpreted.

Personally, I couldn't give a damn about smokers. It is a filthy and disgusting habit. I care very much about the kids who have to live with their parents or parents killing them because of thier ignorance and selfishness.

Cal

 

[southcitymom]

I DID say it wasn't a good idea to smoke in an enclosed car with your baby there... but HOW MUCH should the government CONTROL our lives and LIMIT our choices? Today it is smoking and trans-fats - what's next?

I'm with you on this.

Of course, my perspective may be skewed. I LOVE to smoke and have yet to come up with a compelling reason not to. That said, I don't smoke in my car if there are kids or nonsmokers there. That just seems kind of rude.

We'll legislate ourselves into perfection yet! :crazy:

 

[miimaa]

Well, it seems you are arguing against this law as being unnecessary....using people to whom the law doesn't even apply (those that DO NOT smoke with kids in the car) of why the law is unnecessary. Maybe I misinterpreted.

Personally, I couldn't give a damn about smokers. It is a filthy and disgusting habit. I care very much about the kids who have to live with their parents or parents killing them because of thier ignorance and selfishness.

Cal

My argument is not about this particular law nor about smoking/not smoking but about government CONTROL and how we as citizens should make sure the laws do not become too intrusive.

 

[southcitymom]

Wow, I'm just thinking about all those family vacations in the station wagon my brothers and I never would have had! LOL.

I was going to say I wouldn't have even gotten a ride to school or piano lessons, or much of anything! But I can't say that.

Because I didn't (get a ride to school or piano lessons or really, much of anything)!

My smoking parents were into exercise, as in you want to go there, you walk, after all, it's good for you.

Eve

Sounds like my family, Eve! In every regard!

 

[eve]

The people in America without health insurance want to raise my taxes to provide them with healthcare....I say let's levy a $5 per pack health tax on the sale of cigarettes and use it to offset the huge costs of tobacco use on the medicade and medicare systems. Then maybe it will be easier to afford the costs of the uninsured.

Cal

Why not tax the uninsured smokers who do not pay for insurance like the rest of us do? Ha! THAT will never happen!

Just make sure candy, ice cream and french fries are taxed too! Or maybe we should have people weigh in and present a medical exam summary and a medical insurance card before they can order a Whopper - or have kids, to whom they will pass their predispositions.

I can see that laws about food are coming. Because the thinking on "healthy" changes so much, laws on food could change constantly. And don't forget religious and cultural beliefs could be an issue with food, too!

I have smoked at times and I haven't at times. I never subjected my kids to it (but my parents certainly did). There should be non-smoking places available and if people want them so much they will prosper. What's the problem? Why does the government have to get in on it?! The marketplace should take care of it.

BTST, smoking is legal and consenting adults should have places to partonize too. No one could make you go there or work there. You should be able to smoke in your home and certainly in your yard. In cars with kids? Common sense says no but Keep Uncle Sam out of it!

Pretty soon they'll be legislating which toys we can have in our homes for our children (don't laugh - lots of people think certain toys and games cause violent behavior harmful to society), which politically incorrect books have to go, what movies we can watch, what kind of art we have on our walls, what music we listen to...on and on and on.

I'm with Miimaa and 2sisters. All of you who want these laws, be careful what you wish for - you'll feel differently when your ox is gored.

Eve

 

[calus_3]

I'm with you on this.

Of course, my perspective may be skewed. I LOVE to smoke and have yet to come up with a compelling reason not to. That said, I don't smoke in my car if there are kids or nonsmokers there. That just seems kind of rude.

We'll legislate ourselves into perfection yet! :crazy:

How about this?

I have a relative who is dying from emphysema. They can't walk from the couch to the bathroom without having what best resembles an ashtma attack. They are tethered to an oxygen tank permanently for the rest of their life. They can't spend any quality time with their kids or grandkids. They can barely talk because they can't breathe and talk at the same time.

Smokers counter that they are only hurting themselves. That's a bunch of crap. They hurt everyone who loves them and has to watch them suffocate to death.

Good enough?

Cal

 

[2sisters]

Pretty soon they'll be legislating which toys we can have in our homes for our children (don't laugh - lots of people think certain toys and games cause violent behavior harmful to society), which politically incorrect books have to go, what movies we can watch, what kind of art we have on our walls, what music we listen to...on and on and on.

I'm with Miimaa and 2sisters. All of you who want these laws, be careful what you wish for - you'll feel differently when your ox is gored.

Eve

Heck, some women think it should be illegal to feed a baby formula. Breast milk is best but does that mean the government can step in and fine you for bottle feeding one day? If you really think you will come up with a ton of thing that can be harmful to you or kids but that give the feds no right to come in my home and infringe on my rights. Should all guns be confisacted? Knifes? Lighters?