Deseret News | Reader comments: Vehicles may become Utah's next no-smoking venue

Reader comments
Vehicles may become Utah's next no-smoking venue

ARP | 3:41 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

The smoker who made such a comment is just turning a blind eye and a deaf ear. As I have seen many a rolled up car window with a child or children secured in the seat as well. talk about child abuse, and such a concentration of second hand smoke. The child has no control over their environment. An since we want to bring up such issues mandatory seat belt use we also need to make the helmet law mandatory for motorcycles as well. Heads and pavement, or other objects ie cars, telephone poles and such just are not very compatible. Head injuries uselly are fatal.

tsm | 6:58 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Even though I was diagnosed (as the result of an episode in which I was hospitalized and almost died) with asthma at 18 months old, my father continued to smoke in the vehicle I was riding in. He finally quit smoking in the car when I was 10...but that's only because he quit smoking.

A lot of smokers don't have consideration for others, but rather their behavior is dictated by their addiction. I had someone practically begging me to smoke in my truck...saying he would roll down the window and hang outside. I told him he could sit in the bed of the truck and smoke to his heart's desire. Since it was a cold February night, he opted to wait until he got home.

The CEO of the company I worked for 13 years chose to ignore the smoke-free workplace act and continued to smoke in her office...which I had to sit in for conferences and discussions at least once a day. Out of fear of retribution I finally sent an anonymous letter to the board of directors. The thing is,they knew she smoked in her office, because you could smell it and the boss didn't hide the ashtrays. But because they were confronted with the fact a law was being broken they had to deal with it.

If smokers were capable of making good choices about smoking, so it wouldn't harm others...especially young children who have no choice in being exposed to it, then laws wouldn't have to be made.

And I get tired of smokers complaining they feel picked on...walk a mile in the shoes of someone who has a respiratory disease and then complain.

petpeeve | 8:09 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Smoking in cars is completely my pet peeve. I have asthma as does my 9 month-old daughter. Those who smoke, whether or not they have children in the car, usually vent the smoke out the window. The air intake for my cooler or heater takes that second-hand smoke right into the cab of my vehicle, often triggering a coughing spasm from one or both of us.

I can't explain to each and every person smoking at a stop light what an inconvenience it is to us to go without a fan on a hot or cold day. While the morality police tend to generate unnecessary legislation at times, this is one law I'd completely support since affects not only the health of children of smokers, but *all* children who ride in cars.

Comments continue below

Joe Camel | 8:39 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I actually agree with this law. Both my parents smoked when they drove and vacations in the car were tortuous hours spent in a smoke-filled, confined space. Children are a captive audience who have little control over their own environment and the dangers inflicted upon them within.

Liberty | 9:01 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Grow up. I have asthma, am allergic to cigarette smoke, HATE cigarettes smoke, and almost died of pneumonia this year. I still want smokers to have the right to kill themselves with their cancer sticks. We don't need any more "nanny" laws telling us what to do.

It's not the government's job to protect us from ourselves. If people want to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, drive without a seatbelt, not put their kids in a carseat, or smoke when their kids are around, it's THEIR LIFE, and they will pay the consequences.

You may be thinking, what about the innocent victims of 2nd hand smoke...the children? Children are victims of lots of problems, why pick smoking? A few examples of unregulated problems that arguably have a worse effect on children are parent's who constantly argue, sending infants to daycare, and feeding kids sugar. All have lifelong negative consequences...they just aren't as easy to pick out and vilify as smoking.

You've only got a limited number of days on this earth...don't waste them taking away other people's liberty, even if it's their right to hurt themselves with the vice of their choice.

swrl | 9:09 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

This is a Smoke Screen that is an easy target to show that they do something even if it invades the privacy of one's domain.

Lyman DeKoquonut | 9:11 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

There are so many other social and legal ills that are ignored, attacking smokers is a way for all of the fat, the ignorant and the dishonest to feel superior.

Lyman | 9:55 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

It's funny that this article came out today as I just experienced seeing a child strapped in a car seat as the parents puffed away at there habit in the front seat. How can you be a loving responsible parent and smoke around your child. Windows down or up doesn't make a difference to me, your still doing damage to your child's health. Saying that, I think it's sad that there has to be yet another law passed to curb this shocking behavior. What happened to people just being responsible?

mdm | 10:13 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I was at the Utah State Fair last week. There we smokers all over the place. We were constantly breathing in 2nd hand smoke. Does anyone know if a law was broken by smokers, smoking at the Utah State Fair? Or are open spaces like that considered legal to smoke in?

DLG | 10:20 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Well it is too late to complain about stopping the anti-smoking people. Smokers should have started fighting back against them years ago. They use all their health reports and other things to get the laws they want passed. They don't really care about the children. It is all about control. They want to be able to control other people's lives. You mark my words. before you know it, they are going to pass laws so that they can come into peoples homes to fine them or take away their kids because they are not providing the right kind of food for their kids to eat. Don't believe me. See what they are doing about food in the schools. It always starts somewhere where just about everyone can she the point of it and that it seems to make sense. It all started in airplanes for the cigarettes. Which made sense cause nobody could leave the plane while it was in movement. Then it expanded to all the other places. So now it is starting with food. It is starting small but it will spread out just like it did for cigarettes. It is all about control. They want to control all peoples lifes cause they feel they know what it best for everyone. For those of you who are wondering. No I don't smoke and never have.

Anonymous | 10:28 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

to petpeeve: Why don't you try using the "recirculating" button on your car's heating/AC that way you won't get the outside air into your car and you'll be safe from all of us horrible, horrible people.

Anonymous | 10:35 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Its funny that mandatory motorcycle helmets were mentioned in this article because my helmet has saved me several times from cigarette ash in the face. Not that there are any hard feelings, I had no idea that a cigarette tossed from a window could throw hot ash high enough to get in a motorcyclists face, but it always does and I'm thankfull for that face shield when I have it.

Traffic research analyst | 10:53 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

In my research and experience I can see the passing of this bill being just one more law on the books that wouldn't get enforced. We have speed limit signs that don't mean what they say because law enforcement doesn't have time to enforce them. They are too busy with more serious crimes. We have too many speed related deaths - Known fact. Let's do something about them. Then we can look into saving children from their parents stupidity.

Eric | 10:56 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

If smokers don't want to face these types of restrictions they should have learned to police themselves years ago. Not a day goes by that I don't see several cigarette buts tossed out of car windows. If you walk a roadway you will notice that the gutters are full of disgarded cigarette butts. Smokers are the biggest litterbugs on the planet.

I also see people smoking in their cars with kids strapped into the safety seats. Rarely are the windows down.

pegasus | 11:23 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Liberty and DLG are right on the money. We know how many secondary offenses creep their way into being primary ones.

My son was life-flighted to a level 1 trauma center because of an accident between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT at Easter. To avoid an accident he decided to get onto the shoulder and the softness threw him into a canyon wall at highway speed.

Before buying the motorcycle he took a 3 day training course and bought full leather with titanium shoulder and knee plates. He walked out of the hospital three days later barely bruised. The titanium is scratched, rocks are embedded in his helmet.

THE FOLLOWING IS TONGUE IN CHEEK: Therefore everyone, in any type of vehicle, maybe pedestrians too, should be made to wear helmets and full leather!

Anonymous | 11:25 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I am a smoker, as well as my husband. We both believe that passing this law would be a positive move. We both hate to see people smoking in their cars with children. We have no children, but if we did, this would be a huge no-no. Smoking is a decision that we made, and under no circumstances will we force a child to inhale the poison that we know is killing us. This isn't just for children either, this is for any age. If my husband and I are at work on break, and someone who we know does not smoke comes into our vicinity, we move to a different location. If we are parked, and a car pulls up next to us, we put our cigarettes out. I do no want to be the cause of someone else's health problems. I could never forgive myself. I understand what smoking does to a person's health, and until I quit, may it be soon, I believe that any law that will protect other people from the harmful effects of smoking will be welcomed.

petpeeve | 11:25 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I have a pickup with a pretty basic system. There is no re-circulation button there. Lots of cars are built this way. I have the option of turning off the fan, rolling the window down (often allowing smoke in the car) or sitting in sweltering heat. When we are in our other car with the re-circulating button, I guarantee you it's in use.

I really don't mind others smoking in public actually. It's unfortunate that there are unnecessary laws that give this kind of law the same grouping. If people want to smoke in a bar or in a park, I think that's perfectly their right. I can either choose to be there or not. I choose to go to smoke-free bars like Fats or the Bayou. I think there should be places where anyone can go whether to smoke and socialize or not at all.

In my car, I'm more of a captive audience, and not able to really make the choice whether I want to expose myself to that or not. I don't want to villify smokers, they have a right to do what they want. I just want to be able to choose to *not* breathe second hand smoke.

RangerGordon | 12:39 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

When I read the report that second-hand smoke was more dangerous than smoking, I started smoking. It's much safer!

bbobbx | 12:51 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

How about this idea. Let's enact child endangerment laws and let someone smoke in their car if they want to. Of course, to enact child endangerment laws we would have to take all of the mini buses off of the road or at least force parents to watch the road.

Kia | 1:02 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

THANK YOU Eric!!! for pointing out the outrageous attitude that a lot of smokers seem to have that pitching a butt is acceptable. Hello folks, it's LITTERING! And it's disgusting and filthy! Do you toss the rest of your garbage out your window, or just drop it on the ground? No? Then WHY is it okay to drop a butt???

But then again, how can we expect anything different from people who already demonstrate that they have absolutely NO consideration for anyone else, not even their own captive children.

***

And as far as seatbelt and helmet laws, you bet it's my business whether other people wear them or not! It becomes my business when my insurance rates go up because YOU to be kept alive on life support, or when I have to foot YOUR medical bills totally because you have Medicaid!

Thomas W. Clay | 1:53 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Hypocrates!!!

"We're doing it for the childred!" "We want to promate health!"

Balderdash and lies!!!

If you really are doing it for those reasons, BAN TOBACCO!!!!!

bbbbbbbbbbobbx | 1:58 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

bbobbx

You're a perfect example of how our school system is failing!

Anonymous | 3:51 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Hey Kia, just remember eventually they will try to take something away that you enjoy. And by the way I moved out of Salt Lake because of that beautiful brown air the valley has. My 5 year old's asthma couldn't handle it anymore. And it wasn't because of cigarette smoke, but from cars which everyone drives and contribute to a problems which affects everyone living in the valley.

Town Heathan | 3:59 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

To ARP

Careful what you say about the Helmet law for motorcycles. The next thing you may find is that there are laws telling you what you can do in your own home. That's the negative impact of all this legislation. More and more control by the Government...both local and federal. Every time a new law is written and approved, you loose a little bit more of your freedom. Today it's somebody else's problem...but the next time it could be yours. So be carful about dissing something that you probably have never even done...like ride a motorcycle with...or without a helmet....

Anonymous | 5:56 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

and when are we going to start enforcing littering laws to all those smokers who flick their still burning cigs out their car windows?!?! Being behind someone who smells like death is bad enough, but watching them ruin our city with their trash is too much. We should start a hotline to report and fine people who throw cancer-sticks out car windows

To Liberty | 6:02 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

It may be their life... but what about their family? And friends?

People care.

Support bill | 6:40 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I would rather see smoking in cars banned period. However, since that will most likely never happen, I would like to see this ball passed just for the sake of the poor children who are trapped in the car with no choice.

I hate driving near a car where someone is smoking: I use the recirculation button but it doesn't do much to keep the awful smell out! Not to mention that it's hazardous to your health.

whuddaheck | 6:56 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

My good gosh golly darn! I am so blown away at the idea of someone sitting in traffic, inhaling enough second hand smoke, to cause themselves cancer. A stop light isn't usually longer than 45 seconds--that must be one killer cigarette.LOL! Ridiculous--this goes for parks and other open areas--maybe you had better get one of those germ free bubbles to live in. WAKE UP people everything is killing us in one form or another. This state has way too much control--work on perfecting the laws that you have and quit inventing a law for every day of the week. Ummmm, can we please work on laws for more pressing matters such as domestic violence, hate crimes, and helping each other to become more civilized? Just a thought!

Duchess | 7:20 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

People will ultimately do what they want, including those who have no concern for others.
Adults will still endanger their children if it is their sickness! They are still going to abuse them,not going to put them in car seats or supervise their play.They won't stop smoking in the home if their children are there. Are we going to have house police? Hopefully concerned people will do their best to take notice of the rights of others, including innocent children.
However, there are concerned parents & adults who are smokers.They would make the choice not to smokenear children. Smokers have a bad addiction, but taking away their right to smoke ALONE in their cars, would be wrong.

Brilliant Statement | 8:00 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

This is my favorite quote in the whole story: "Smokers aren't as stupid as a lot of nonsmokers like to think."

I must say that paying money to inhale 4000 different chemicals, 40 of which are known to cause cancer, is a very intelligent thing to do.

The disgusting thing about this law is not the fact that the government is trying to control our lives, the disgusting thing is that they need to make laws like this to protect the innocent.

Anonomous | 8:30 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

This is ridiculous!!! Im a minor my self and i dont think that we need a law to ban car-smoking!!!

I mean, really!!! Smokers arent 2!!! It is so immature to be killing somebody else just so that you can get what you want!!! Can anybody who reads this name one single inch of your body that smoking isn't bad for?

ya!!! I thought so!!! There isn't one!!! name one!!! just one!!!

How could any person be even dumb enough to start smoking!!! NOT COOL!!! NOT GLAMOROUS!!! NOT HOT!!!

smoking ruins how you look and smell!!! I mean, who wants to be around someone with that smell!!!

As i said, this is just riddiculous!!!

and for any smokers reading this, Im not trying to be mean, just get my pint across.

GOOD LUCK QUITTING SMOKERS (if you are one)

If not than good luck not starting

im a minor who agrees | 8:54 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I agree with u brilliant statement. us kids are people too
just remember smokers. if ur going to kill people at least kill them fast so they dont have to have athsma and other diseases that will kill them. you might as well shoot the other people around you if you are gonna kill them. At least you will get punished by law for killing somebody

unknown | 9:03 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I think smoking is bad its awasted of money and little kids when they smell smoke they gag and think that person is bad when half of the smokers are very kind people I think smoking and drugs should be against the law.

vote yes senate!!! | 9:04 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

this is my third article here. Please!!! Im a minor and I feel victim when people smoke or are very mean to others and crude. Adults can think that they are all that if they want but they dont make any good points. How come everybody skips over the thought that people use less vulgar language in public when children are around but they still use just as deadly fumes.

* IF I NEED TO I WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO BOYCOTT THIS SMOKING IDIOCY*

Here is a tip smokers: When you need to smoke when you are near youth, think of how many minutes you are taking off of their lives for every second

Thank you for reading this everyone

Please read this!!! | 9:11 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I am dissapointed that so few buildings have been made anti-smoking according to this article.

*small businesses: You are next to save people who like me, are minors who are offended at how few people actually wrote that they agree that minors die from the ignorance of some smokers. dont people care about children?

Support Bill 2 | 9:47 p.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Brilliant Statement: Yes, it is!

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