US Faces Driving Smoke Ban

Drivers could be banned from smoking if with children.

Drivers in the US could soon be banned from smoking in their cars if children are present, according to reports.

Bills banning smoking in vehicles carrying children, are understood to be making their way through Legislature.

Parts of the US have led the way to banning smoking in public places and some senators now argue the interior of a vehicle is a new realm of government regulation. A new law would cover pipes, cigars and cigarettes; although there is discussion as to whether it would affect open top cars. Police could only ticket drivers if they are first pulled over for a major or "primary" offence, like speeding, it is reported.

Under the provisions of the House bill, drivers would be given a six-month reprieve from penalization, in which time police would give warning tickets and attempt to educate drivers.
The amount of money people would have to pay in fines has yet to be set.

The bills are said to have been proposed by Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, in the Senate, and Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, in the House.

‘We're not telling you not to smoke. We're not telling you to not smoke in your car. We're telling you to not smoke in front of your kids in your car,’ Schual-Berke said.