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Ireland could ban all smoking in cars


A tobacco policy review being carried out by Dr James Reilly, Ireland's health minister is "in favour of legislating in this area", according to The Irish Times

Irish health officials are examining two options: the first to prohibit smoking in cars where children under 16 are present; the other for a blanket ban if limited prohibition involving is unworkable.

Ireland was the first country in Europe in ban smoking in bars and pubs. Smoking in taxis, company cars and vans, which are classed as workplaces, is already prohibited under existing laws.

Anti-smoking campaigner Luke Clancy said today that a comprehensive ban would work. “Second hand smoke levels in cars are very high and second hand smoke can be lethal,” he said.

Conor Faughnan, spokesman for the Irish AA Roadwatch, predicted that many motorists would see a ban as an "ideological" encroachment on their cars, usually regarded as private space.

"The logical extension of that is that we should ban smoking in homes too or ban it altogether," he said.

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Smoking in cars with minors present is already illegal in California.  I think its a really good law that serves to limit the harmful affect of smoking parents on their children.  That said, from what I gather a much smaller percentage of Californians smoke compared to most other states (even though our tax on smokes is lower than many high smoking rate states like Pennsylvania).

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Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:
Smoking in cars with minors present is already illegal in California.  I think its a really good law that serves to limit the harmful affect of smoking parents on their children.  That said, from what I gather a much smaller percentage of Californians smoke compared to most other states (even though our tax on smokes is lower than many high smoking rate states like Pennsylvania).

but what of the ban on smoking in cars period, regardless of the presence of a minor? and what about the bans on smoking in appartment buildings or in your own home?

one thing i don't get is how it's illegal to smoke in large, open air spaces. i mean, sure, the smell may be unpleasant for some, but the virtual furor raised over second-hand smoke just doesn't really hold up in an environment such as this. i mean you have to be in a confined area for second-hand smoke to REALLY be dangerous to anyone.

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Originally Posted by Dødherre Mørktre:

Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:
Smoking in cars with minors present is already illegal in California.  I think its a really good law that serves to limit the harmful affect of smoking parents on their children.  That said, from what I gather a much smaller percentage of Californians smoke compared to most other states (even though our tax on smokes is lower than many high smoking rate states like Pennsylvania).

but what of the ban on smoking in cars period, regardless of the presence of a minor? and what about the bans on smoking in appartment buildings or in your own home?

one thing i don't get is how it's illegal to smoke in large, open air spaces. i mean, sure, the smell may be unpleasant for some, but the virtual furor raised over second-hand smoke just doesn't really hold up in an environment such as this. i mean you have to be in a confined area for second-hand smoke to REALLY be dangerous to anyone.

Not true:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502181454.htm.  Also, many people, like myself, have asthma and often have attacks when near large concentrations of outside smokers.

I know some land management agencies, like the USDI Park Service, do periodically issue bans on smoking in cars while in the park, however this is related to fire hazard rather than second hand smoke (we seem to have far too many idiot smokers who think its perfectly acceptable to flick their cigarette but out their car window, which is not only littering but can also result in fires.  One study estimated that cigarette fires cause on average $6.95 billion dollars of damage in the US $27 billion a year around the world.

I would support a ban on smoking in connected residential buildings as the smoker is effectively violating their neighbors right to life by introducing large concentrations into their neighbors habitation.  As the study I posted above shows, smoke does dissipate after ~ 6 ft from the smoker, so in most urban areas your neighbor smoking in their house would not have a negative health impact on you.

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Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:

I would support a ban on smoking in connected residential buildings as the smoker is effectively violating their neighbors right to life smoke does dissipate after ~ 6 ft from the smoker, so in most urban areas your neighbor smoking in their house would not have a negative health impact on you.

these two statements seem to contradict.

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Originally Posted by Dødherre Mørktre:

Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:

I would support a ban on smoking in connected residential buildings as the smoker is effectively violating their neighbors right to life smoke does dissipate after ~ 6 ft from the smoker, so in most urban areas your neighbor smoking in their house would not have a negative health impact on you.

these two statements seem to contradict.

Sorry, I seemed to have neglected a few key words.  I think its ok if you do not have neighbors in a connected building (ie not ok in an apartment), but if you live in a house with >5 yards between you and your neighbor its alright.

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Originally Posted by Dødherre Mørktre:


but what of the ban on smoking in cars period, regardless of the presence of a minor? and what about the bans on smoking in appartment buildings or in your own home?

Well, they're not talking about banning smoking in your own home (yet), that was just brought up as a "well, if they do this, what's next?" statement. As for the ban in cars if there's an under-16 present, it's pretty much unenforcable, is one of those type of laws that if they bring it in will involve lots of hassle and red tape for everyone to the advantage of no-one.

Given that there's no national ID  card over here, the cop on the spot won't be able to say there's a definite offence in the event of the child being old enough that there's a doubt, and what are they going to do to prove it anyway? If there's the smell of smoke in the car, do a breathalyser test on the kid to see how much smoke is in their lungs? Is the health nazis trying to solve a problem that no-one thought was a problem before they brought it up.

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Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:

Originally Posted by Dødherre Mørktre:

Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:
Smoking in cars with minors present is already illegal in California.  I think its a really good law that serves to limit the harmful affect of smoking parents on their children.  That said, from what I gather a much smaller percentage of Californians smoke compared to most other states (even though our tax on smokes is lower than many high smoking rate states like Pennsylvania).

but what of the ban on smoking in cars period, regardless of the presence of a minor? and what about the bans on smoking in appartment buildings or in your own home?

one thing i don't get is how it's illegal to smoke in large, open air spaces. i mean, sure, the smell may be unpleasant for some, but the virtual furor raised over second-hand smoke just doesn't really hold up in an environment such as this. i mean you have to be in a confined area for second-hand smoke to REALLY be dangerous to anyone.

Not true:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502181454.htm.  Also, many people, like myself, have asthma and often have attacks when near large concentrations of outside smokers.

I know some land management agencies, like the USDI Park Service, do periodically issue bans on smoking in cars while in the park, however this is related to fire hazard rather than second hand smoke (we seem to have far too many idiot smokers who think its perfectly acceptable to flick their cigarette but out their car window, which is not only littering but can also result in fires.  One study estimated that cigarette fires cause on average $6.95 billion dollars of damage in the US $27 billion a year around the world.

I would support a ban on smoking in connected residential buildings as the smoker is effectively violating their neighbors right to life by introducing large concentrations into their neighbors habitation.  As the study I posted above shows, smoke does dissipate after ~ 6 ft from the smoker, so in most urban areas your neighbor smoking in their house would not have a negative health impact on you.

I agree with ya.  I used to smoke (been smoke free for 20 years now).  But I cant stand to get around it.  Not only that, but dislike even seeing it.  Two of the most unappealing things for me is to see a girl smoking...or seeing one get tattoos.  Just my opinion, but it looks very trailer-park trashy to me.  And kissing a girl that smokes is like licking an ashtray.