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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Destiny Zeiders |
State Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Daley calls for legislation to end smoking in a vehicle when children are present
HARRISBURG, Jan. 18 -- “I am alarmed when I see someone smoking in their car, while there is a child present. Too many children are involuntarily exposed to secondhand smoke and the health effects are serious,” said state Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-Washington/Fayette.
Daley today announced his plans to introduce a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a child present.
A violation would occur if the smoking takes place in a vehicle transporting children who are in child safety seats. Legal requirements in Pennsylvania require a child to be in a car seat until they are 80 pounds or 8 years old.
“Of course this won’t protect all dependent minors, but it’s an easily verifiable place to start," Daley said.
Penalty upon conviction would be up to a $100 fine for a first offense, and a minimum $250 fine for any subsequent offense.
“A magistrate might choose just to warn the parent the first time, since this is a change to a new kind of thinking about this in terms of the law,” Daley said, “but a second offense deserves a stronger, mandatory message.”
Because their bodies are developing, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke. With immune systems that are less mature, smaller airways and a greater demand for oxygen, they are more vulnerable to respiratory diseases.
“I first introduced this legislation in 1988,” Daley said. “Over the last two decades, the risks of secondhand smoke have become much clearer. The health effects of secondhand smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought.”
Studies in nationally prominent journals have shown that secondhand smoke has adverse health outcomes which also include a greater likelihood of ear infections, lower respiratory system infections, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and an increased severity of asthma symptoms.
“Children spend a lot of time in cars each week. With contained spaces and low ceilings, toxic air particles are concentrated at the head height of children. Because of this, smoking in a vehicle can even be more dangerous than smoking in a house,” Daley said.
Daley noted that studies have shown that even smoking in the car with the windows down can produce smoke pollution that is comparable to smoky bars or restaurants. Toxic particles from secondhand smoke settle on objects and the seats in the car.
“We all know how children love to touch things and then put their hands in their mouths, thus they are being exposed to the contaminants in more ways than one.
“Unlike adults, children cannot advocate for smoke-free spaces and in a car they are restrained to their safety seat,” Daley said. “We must conscientiously examine these findings and promote a smoke-free environment to protect our children. “
In 2006, Louisiana and Arkansas adopted legislation banning smoking in cars with young children present and similar measures are under consideration in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Maine.
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