Maine City Bans Smoking in Cars With Children

The New York Times reports:

Tonya Henderson will have to be more careful where she lights up her Marlboros.


Bangor is banning smoking in cars if children are present, and Ms. Henderson, 24, is accustomed to having a cigarette when her boyfriend’s 7-year-old daughter is in the back seat.

She is just the kind of person City Council members had in mind when they passed the ordinance, which has delighted some and angered others and prompted complaints about invasion of privacy and even threats to boycott the city, Maine’s second-largest. The ordinance, which takes effect on Jan. 19, allows the police to stop cars if an adult is smoking while a child under 18 is a passenger. The smoker can be fined $50.

When you don't respect property rights the government can tell you what you can and can't do in your own car.Big Brother is watching you.