No Smoking in Vehicles?

S.C. does not need law invading lives of citizens

Smokers and nonsmokers surely can agree that tobacco smoke in a vehicle is particularly obnoxious - and unhealthy for everyone in the car, especially children.

There undoubtedly is less agreement on whether the practice should be banned by law. S.C. Sen. Darrell Jackson of Hopkins has proposed a law banning smoking in any vehicle in which there is a child younger than 10. Jackson says he used 10 in an effort to avoid having the debate shifted to teen smokers.

A couple of states recently have enacted such laws and bills have been introduced in at least 10 states this year according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The group would prefer no particular age - ban smoking in vehicles. Period.

Other advocates, such as those concerned about privacy and civil liberties, see Jackson's bill as going too far. What's next, banning parents from smoking at home? Don't laugh. This is unfortunately not beyond the lengths to which some anti-smoking zealots would go.

Of course parents shouldn't smoke when children are in the car - but the state should trust parents who smoke to do the right thing, not only in cars but also in other spaces they share with kids.

Plus, S.C. police officers and highway patrol troopers have enough to do without watching for smoking parents with kids strapped in the back seat.

If the state wants to discourage smoking in vehicles carrying children, a more sensible approach would be to fund public service announcements aimed at smoking parents who don't understand the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke.

The state, however, does not need another law intruding into the private lives of citizens.