Quoting kate & tilly:" Why does it only protect kids up to the age of 8? I agree with the law. Yea it's a free country but we ... [snip!] ... the whole its a free country argument. In my opinion smoking in the car with your kids is very dangerous. And I am a smoker."

!!
Thank you! I smoked before I was pregnant with DD1, quit upon finding out I was pregnant. Started back up when DD1 was around 3 months (I had quit bfing due to stress and personal reasons). And quit again back in October when I found out I was pregnant with DD2. I've NEVER smoked in the car with DD1, and don't allow anyone else to either. If they bring out the "it's my car" excuse then I bring out "My kid, if you feel the need to smoke in the car with her then you cannot visit with her".

That being said, I'd give up my so-called "Freedom" in my car or my home ANYDAY to ensure my child isn't inhaling that smurf. She has a right to be breathing fresh air despite my decision or anyone else to smoke.

Quoting -()-()-()-:" I think it's a great law but in a perfect world they wouldn't need to make a law on something that should ... [snip!] ... smoking age, if they aren't old enough to choose it for themselves, they shouldn't be subjected to it by their caregivers."

Agreed.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Munchkin Maker:</b>" Agreed."</blockquote>


Should we make all fatty, unhealthy foods unavailable too? Should we take all kids away from their parents that are overweight or obese?

How much power did you want to give away, here?

I've seen women on BG propose arresting parents who:

Circ.
Smoke cigarettes
Have an overweight child
Pierce their child's ears
Allow their children to drink soda
Hold a certain political ideology
Spank

Gettin' a Lil' crazy!

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Munchkin Maker:</b>" Agreed."</blockquote> Should we ... [snip!] ... Pierce their child's ears Allow their children to drink soda Hold a certain political ideology Spank Gettin' a Lil' crazy!"

Meh. That's why I'm glad it's not up to me.
An unfit parent is an unfit parent, regardless of height, weight, race. DD's ears are peirced. I do not believe in physical discipline, although I do know a few parents who do. I have no REAL, or TRUE political beliefs. I don't lean either which way. I vote. What's right to me is right and what's wrong is wrong. It's all a matter of opinion. Thankfully my opinion doesn't affect the parental rights of others, in a sense I see your point. The government does try to over-control in some aspects, but in others they don't step in enough! I know 2 people who have a child the same age as mine, they're herion addicts and have been arrested several times for theft and whatnot, THE CHILD BEING WITH THEM, and they've gotten him back every single time. CPS and the governement in MD isn't worth crap. Maybe in some states they over-step. But here they don't seem to give a damn about the welfare of the children. Hence why I've been happy to see them at least APPEAR to give a damn about the children in MD by passing the no smoking in cars law. IMO of course.

Exactly. It's a slippery slope, for sure.

And again, smoking around your kids IS stupid. Common sense SHOULD tell us that much.

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" Exactly. It's a slippery slope, for sure. And again, smoking around your kids IS stupid. Common sense SHOULD tell us that much."

I agree. I am a smoker/was a smoker (I always stop during pregnancy) and I do not smoke around my child. HOWEVER, it's not my job to tell other parents not to.

I think it's stupid.

However, some people might think it's stupid that I left my 4 year old play in the backyard alone. Or that I spank him. Or that I take naps while he is playing in the other room.

Just people they might think it's common sense and stupid doesn't mean they get to decide whether it's okay in my household.

Quoting Munchkin Maker:" A law was passed in my state today that you CANNOT SMOKE IN A CAR WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 8. I ... [snip!] ... because I quit back when I found out I was pregnant and the smell bothers me, plus not wanting it around DD. Anyways, opinions?"

Here you're not allowed to smoke in the car with anyone under the age of 16.
I think it's a fantastic law... smoking is disgusting.. smoking with your child in the car is never ever ever acceptable IMO

Do the reactions of the people who support it really surprise anyone?

If smokers actually cared about the wellbeing, health, or even experience of anyone but themselves (or themselves, for that matter), they wouldn't do it to begin with.

So the people saying that this law restricts the freedom of smokers to smoke in their car with their children in it, what about the children's freedom to breathe smoke free air when in the car?

Like someone else said, this sort of law has been in place in Maine for years, except the age limit is 16. I love it. My parents are both smokers and whenever they watch DD I can trust that they won't smoke in the car with her like they did with my brother and I.

Quoting Thisperyears:" So the people saying that this law restricts the freedom of smokers to smoke in their car with their ... [snip!] ... smokers and whenever they watch DD I can trust that they won't smoke in the car with her like they did with my brother and I."

seems like a lot of people dont care about children's freedom when it comes to their own selfish habits and opinions.

Quoting lilmzzgreeneyez *NMOA*:" seems like a lot of people dont care about children's freedom when it comes to their own selfish habits and opinions."

Apparently. I'm just glad my parents actually listened to the research and read up on the effects of secondhand smoke. Even though they haven't quit they've restricted their smoking to the basement and seriously cut back. Even though they haven't quit I'm proud of them.

Quoting Thisperyears:" Apparently. I'm just glad my parents actually listened to the research and read up on the effects of ... [snip!] ... quit they've restricted their smoking to the basement and seriously cut back. Even though they haven't quit I'm proud of them."

my mother quit last year in april after about 38 years of smoking and at least 15 years of me BEGGING her to quit. my father will not quit. he only smokes in his office which is in the house but he has a air filter system in there.. its not perfect but since he refuses to quit its better than nothing. (been trying to get him to at least switch to the ecig.....) as far as i know he doesnt smoke in his car and mom hasnt ever smoked in her new car (she got it a year or so ago)

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mother of One plus One:</b>" Its not your kid so not your concern. They tried to pass a law like that here but it didn't pass because ... [snip!] ... to be a free country. And now you can't even smoke in your own car with your kid in it. Its just crazy the things they pass."</blockquote>



a kid being raped, not my kid so not my concern? that's just silly...nobody gives a smurf if you smoke but when it affects innocent children someone needs to step in..people complain the government is too big but you can't trust people to make smart choices..