Reader comments
Panel hesitant but OKs car-smoking proposal

Turk | 11:04 a.m. Sept. 20, 2007

This is ridiculous! The fact that this bill has made it this far is a disgrace! What the lawmakers are telling us is that the average citizen cannot possibly make the right decision without their guidance. The arrogance is infuriating! We are supposed to live in a free country. Unfortunately, bad things happen when we're allowed to make our own decisions.
This law won't prevent anyone from smoking in their car, it will only put more money into the police coffers. Once again, it's just another way to tax the citizens of this state. My mistake for thinking that common sense could overcome greed.

Paul | 2:25 p.m. Sept. 20, 2007

What's ridiculous is that anyone would still be smoking in a car with a small child in it. People can't do whatever they want with children, and not consider the consequences. Tobacco smoke has some very severe consequences to a child who's still developing. You can check the Centers for Disease Control site on Second Hand Smoke, or the Surgeon General's site. Even Philip Morris tobacco company's page on SHS/ETS agrees that there are negative health consequences in non-smokers caused by tobacco smoke. Utah wouldn't be the first place in the US to ban this very unhealthy practice. They should do it.

swrl | 5:25 p.m. Sept. 20, 2007

How can you exclude one State Agency that has a history of spinning everthing around to ignore the legislative intent. E.G. Deadbeat Mom/Dad ORS collection attacks on Driver Licenses. Then there is GRAMA stated to help the media but once again DCFS interprets it as being intrusive on the Government Agency's "Privacy"
Wait until some legislator's kid gets caught smoking with his little sister in the car; the police impound the car and find more than tabacco. If passed it will allow another ground to be considered in a DCFS termenation of paretntal rights. It will pass and law inforcement will have another 'selective' probable cause to stop and search.

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Clean Air | 10:48 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

I see parents smoking in cars with children all the time. It is horrible! Thus, you are right Turk, this law assumes that parents can't make the right choices with regards to smoking around their kids. IT IS RIGHT! This law makes perfect sense. Children that cannot protect themselves from their parents stupidity deserve protection.

Charlie | 4:54 p.m. Sept. 23, 2007

While I don't smoke, and haven't for thirty years now, and don't like being around smokers, it is NONE of the states G.D. business if parents want to smoke ANYWHERE, WITH OR WITHOUT their kids present.

This proposed law is just another intrusion into our lives by government busybodies with nothing better to do. And what a shock that it's proposed by a member of the party of busybodies.
It should fail and if by some chance it passes the legislature, Gov. Huntsman should veto it.

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