Maine House votes to ban smoking in cars with child passengers
AUGUSTA, Maine—A bill to outlaw smoking in cars in which children under 16 are present won an initial vote of approval Tuesday in the Maine House of Representatives after supporters defended it as a children's health measure that would save money.
The bill, which faces further House and Senate voting, advanced on a 92-46 tally. It would authorize $50 fines for violations, but only after the first year. In the meantime, warnings would be issued.
Speaking in support, Rep. Sheryl Briggs said the bill would protect children from the effects of secondhand smoke in enclosed areas that could lead to ear infections and aggravate asthma and other respiratory ailments.
"We have an opportunity to also save money" that would otherwise be spent on health care, said the Mexico Democrat.
The bill emerged with a 12-1 vote of support from the Health and Human Services Committee. The dissenter, Rep. Robert Walker, urged against "legislating common sense."
"Is the long arm of government once again reaching into people's lives, into people's homes and now in people's cars?" asked the Lincolnville Republican, who is a physician.
Rep. Sean Faircloth, the assistant House Democratic leader, said the bill defends the rights of children who are strapped in the enclosures of cars "and forced to breathe in carcinogens."
"As a civil libertarian, I am forced to support this bill," said Faircloth.
Another Bangor Democrat, Rep. Patricia Blanchette, had supported a city ordinance that was the state's first and became a model of a legislative bill she sponsored earlier on. But on Tuesday she called for rejection of the pending measure, saying it had become too watered down in committee. Among the changes Blanchette opposes are lowering the age in the original bill, which applied to those under age 18, to those under 16 instead.
Maine's bill is similar to those that have been enacted in other cities, counties and states and are under consideration or enacted in Canadian provinces.
As of Tuesday, it will be against the law in Nova Scotia to smoke in a vehicle while children under 18 are present. The fine will be $394.50.
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