How do you figure? People who smoke should also be fined even if there are no children in the car?

You are making this sound that if people smoke and they have children, they should be fined just because they smoke...

Make smoking illegal then...

Yes, it is the same thing, and I disagree with this new law.

I don't think driving while drunk is the same at all as smoking.

We have a law like this in the state legislature right now, I doubt it will pass. My children have never seen me smoke a cigarette. Mostly because I only smoke when I work, and I only work like 1 day a week. I'd never consider smoking in the car, with or without them. Unfortunately you can not legislate common sense, or courtesy, but we try to legislate "safety". So is it UNSAFE to smoke a cigarette in a car with a child once? Probably not. Is it UNSAFE to do it everyday chain smoking on a 4 hour commute with the windows up? Undoubtedly. Unfortunately unless the state is willing to raise second hand smoking to the level of "child abuse" they should keep the f**k out of it. And if they ARE willing to go that far (and I'm not saying they shouldn't) then they shouldn't mess around with fines, they should take custodial rights. To ME safety is about immediate harm, not about possible long term effect, if these bills pass as a matter of "safety" it is a slippery slope.

Responsible people don't smoke when there's kids in the car to begin with. The law has absolutely no effect on them. They keep on driving as they were, they don't have to give up anything, they won't be fined.

Really? You want the government coming into your home and decide what you can or can not do?

Where would it stop?

It's funny, but when talking about homosexuality people are saying the government has no right to tell you how to live. Though some say a gay home is harmful for minors.
This is not different.

Children cannot uninhale smoke.
Showers do not clean out your lungs.
I doubt children have the choice to get out of the car while their parents are puffing on their cigs in the moving vehicle. In fact, MOST children are subject to the rules of their parents and thus do not have a choice but to endure the hazardous hydrogen cyanide.
This is why the law is being passed.
Only ignorant people will be affected by this law, obviously.
For the rest of us, it will be a step forward towards positive progression as a civilization.

Comparing a gay home to smoking in the home is like comparing apples and watermelons.

Having two mommies or two daddies isn't going to affect the health of a child. However, if both those mommies or daddies are puffing away in front of those kids, forcing them to breathe in their nastiness, then, that is a harmful home.

EXACTLY!!

Which is why the law needs to act on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves.

You keep saying things that only erode your own argument lol

You can't expect a 0+ child to know what's best for their health. That's a parents responsibility. If the parents isn't responsible or is wilfully neglectful of their duty to their child's health then what is the issue with the legal system stepping in?!

You premise was that children have a choice but that is totally ridiculous. Do you not agree with there being child endangerment laws in place?

I had a choice when I was a child... I don't see why people think it is so difficult for a child to have a choice...

Ok let me rephrase that:

An irresponsible adult would ignore a child's request because they would think the child would not know any better.

Some people would disagree with you there.

I don't but I am trying to make a point.

LMFAO! You're being ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure that there's never been any gay related lung disease.

A gay relationship won't cause children health problem, won't give them lung cancer, won't potentially cause death.

EXACTLY!! Again

Even if a 2yo or whatever age child knew that second hand smoke was harmful to them what's to say that irresponsible parents would listen?! Which is exactly why the law is a good thing

/facepalm

I suppose what you don't understand is the notion that there are many children who do not have a choice. This is why the law is being passed. To protect the safety of children as a whole.

Some people would argue that homosexuality will cause psych and behavioral problems in children...

Just like child abuse laws are in place to protect children from being disciplined in public when they misbehave?

There's no proof of this. Only a bigot would argue this.

You can't argue with science however. Second hand smoke kills, causes ling disease, especially in youthful, developing lungs. It's not a POV, it's a fact

That's what I was going for, thanks

I am not disagreeing with you there. Second hand smoke kills...

Fining people for choosing to smoke is not the answer. Making Smoking illegal is the answer... it kills globally; children and adults... Why protect the children and not the adults?

Because the children can't protect themselves?

Why bailout financial institutions? Because people can't borrow responsibly?

The government already comes to our homes and decides loads of things we can and cannot do. The right to do whatever you want in your own home is an illusion, not something that exists anywhere. There already are restrictions and limits. These would have to do with dangers your actions can cause to others. Such as, mandatory lockup for firearms, separating guns and ammo, not being allowed to fire guns in your home, not being able to store dangerous materials inside, not being allowed to be noisy enough that it bothers your neighbours and so on ad infinitum.

As for homosexuality, what two consending adults do to each other is their business. If gay people do things in their home that endangers the child, then the government can intervene. I'm not aware that the gender makeup of the parents is in itself harmful for minors.

Just to be clear here.
I agree that smoking is harmful.
I agree children shouldn't be around it.
I am not arguing that at all.

I am arguing that the government can come into my private place (which I think a car is) and tell me I can't smoke, with or without kids, when smoking is legal.

Adults can make the choice for themselves, children can't.

I agree with making smoking illegal in all public places and around children. A child living in their parents home cannot make that choice for themselves.