We Think We Might End Up A Libertarian, After All

By Jocelyn Geboy in News on Mar 9, 2007 11:45PM

Democratic state Representative Mike Boland of East Moline, has proposed a bill in the Illinois house stating that it will be illegal for drivers to smoke with children younger than eight years of age in the car. Boland says it's the state's responsibility "to protect children from adverse health effects from second-hand smoke." But only in the car? And kids who are nine-years-old are ready to suck down some Marlboro leftovers?

Chicagoist gets it. Second-hand smoke is terrible and the wee ones are at risk for asthma and other bad stuff when they're constantly exposed to the crap. We have a sister who we kind of want to smack around some as she constantly lights up around our niece and nephew. But we're really sick and tired of all this smothering, strange, specific legislation being thrown on the table that seems nearly non-enforceable, not to mention not all that much of a deterrent. Right now, the proposed snag for getting caught is a class C misdemeanor, with the possibility of 30 days in jail and $1500 in fines.

Despite the hazards of second-hand smoke do the kids really need their mom or dad going to jail for 30 days? More importantly, do we really need more laws on the books that will be randomly and arbitrarily enforced? Do cops hunt down Smoky McSmokersons? Or just when you're getting a speeding ticket and the officer feels like putting the screws to you and sees you've got a cig burning and a toddler in the backseat?

Chicagoist has seen *so* many people talking on cell phones (many of them the people weaving over into our lane or driving so slow we think we're going to see a grandpa at the wheel), we can't believe that these sorts of laws really do any good. Not to mention, if you've ever been bitten by the nicotine bug (we have), it's not like anything really matters to you when you really need that cancer stick. Especially since you're ... probably smoking at home!

We wish the lawmakers would put down the petty stick and get to the RTA funding, pronto. That'll keep some smog out of the air, at least.

"This Stops Now" by jlm