Bangor group targets smokers in cars

No worries! Like you I came to my senses and QUIT!

Sometimes high-tax/low-wage life in Maine dictates that children be raised in the American version of a kibbutz... but I digress.

I understand what you are saying. Seems to me education is the key, along with reinforcement by role models.

I guess I just wish I could DO SOMETHING about people who expose children to smoke. Does anyone know whether licensed daycare providers are prohibited from smoking around the children for whom they care? I know there was something a while ago concerning the issue of foster parents who smoke around their foster children.

I know I keep bringing up the carseat issue but.. I remember back in the day when carseats became law and a lot of people said it infringed on their rights. Today it is pretty much a non-issue; if you have a child you have a carseat. I hope that not smoking around kids is someday accepted as the norm too. And I think it will be, if we continue to stress the negative aspects of tobacco.

I hope it becomes a social norm, as well. However, I'd rather see it dealt with via education than legislation.

The old saying: "You Cannot Legislate Stupidity."

Maybe more people need to speak up... like if you're at an intersection and see someone smoking in the car with their kid in it, yell:

"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING SMOKING WITH THAT KID IN THE CAR? SHAME ON YOU!"

Kind of like how I used to yell "WOODCOCK FOR GUVNAH" at cars with Baldez stickers on them. :lol:

But it's allowed according to the law, so YOU are guilty of shooting your mouth off.

I would not advise that approach, Catherine, no matter how tempting it might be.

The old saying: "You Cannot Legislate Stupidity."

Maybe both, though. Education for those who will listen, laws to protect the children of those for whom the education is not welcome.

"And if cowpies was puddin' I'd eat 'till I died" :lol:

Yet another thing I learned from my mother. :lol:

Yeah, you say that now, but just wait - your kid will say the same thing about YOU, someday.
:D

End of Tobacco Road

By Bangor Daily News Staff

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - Bangor Daily

With so much information available on the potential harm from secondhand smoke, it’s hard to believe that drivers don’t know to refrain from smoking while carrying children in their cars. But if a recent survey is an indication, adults commonly expose kids to smoke this way, which makes a proposed Bangor ordinance to stop the practice a natural step forward for the city.

SOURCE

A legacy I'll be proud to pass on!!!!

BANGOR -Smoking ban in cars with kids to be aired

By Meg Haskell
Thursday, January 4, 2007 - Bangor Daily News

At its meeting on Monday, the Bangor City Council will consider a proposed ordinance to ban smoking in cars within the city limits when children are present.

Bangor would become the first municipality in Maine to enact such a measure, if the proposal wins the council’s approval.

The ordinance already has garnered the support of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and a number of medical, public health and business leaders. It also has drawn fire in the "reader comments" section of the Bangor Daily News Web site, primarily from smokers who protest it as an invasion of privacy.

SOURCE

I only found 3 comments, and those were from two people.

IMHO, if it does pass into law people will ignore it anyway.

If it passes, will it pass the Constitution test?

Here are my thoughts. People who smoke around their children are awful. It causes the child to get more ear infections, get more colds and other forms of sinus infections, and they also are more likely to develop asthma.

However, I don't agree with government sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong.

So the question is, is this an appropriate government issue?

Someone already mentioned that when carseat legislation was first passed, people used the same right to privacy don't legislate us to death argument.

Here's where I see a difference. Children with parents who smoke in the car would also be suspect to smoking in their residences. My guess is, the kids are subjected to second hand smoke way more often at home than they are in the car. Punishing parents for smoking in their cars, but not at home, to mee seems like a power grab.

Carseats, however, prevent a child from getting hurt in acar accident. They aren't at risk for going out the windshield at home or on their bikes etc. It is a simple, easily solvable issue. Strap your kid in his carseat, he doesn't die from being tossed around in the back seat during an accident. Done.

Ticketing parents for smoking while they have kids in the car isn't going to stop the kids from being exposed to second hand smoke. Just b/c it urks Bangor residents to see a toddler sitting in the backseat surrounded by a cloud of smoke doesn't mean mommy government can come take care of it.

The legislation frightens me, because like many have asked before, where does it stop?

Is it more healthy for the child to smoke around them while at home? How long before we outlaw that? We are going to need many government agents to enforce that one. Bangor will need subsidies from the state to fund the enforcement.

I used to think the taxes I paid for law enforcement was money well spent. Now, after getting two tickets in the past 6 months for violations that had nothing to do with public safty, I now have to spend money to protect myself from the State Police.

Ticket #1: Recieved by a driver in one of my trucks, "no operating authority". The operating authority apparantly got lost, I went to court (out of town) with a valid copy of my operating authority and still got fined over $100. The mail in fine would have been over $300 but it should have been $0. Can anyone tell me the value of having "operating authority"? I buy it for all states east of the Mississippi, but have only ever been asked for it in Maine. Why does maine do this? I'll tell you, easy money and the trooper doesn't have to spend time and effort inspecting the truck for something that could actually effect the safe operation of the vehicle.

Ticket #2: Recieved by me in my personal pickup, "excessive exhaust", whatever that means. The mail in fine would be $137, but I am contesting the ticket and am told that it will probably be 3-4 months before I get a court date. It's already been 50 days with no court date yet. REASON FOR STOP: I bought these tips for my exhaust that have tiny green lights in them (matches my pickup). He gave me a warning ticket for illegal use of under vehicle lighting (thank god for this law).

I am sure the people of Maine will rest a lot easier knowing these troopers are doing such fine work.

We have way to many stupid laws on the books and way to many people willing to enforce them rather than doing something worthwhile!

Kris,
My condolences on the tickets.

So tell me, did you take off the green lights on the exhaust?

Didn't dudley-do-right take note of the inspection station that passed your vehicle with the lights on? Surely they will pay a step fine for such a transgression?

This is what happens when you let the cops make the laws folks!
:roll:

Wait till everybody gets a belly full of the new inspection laws!

O-kay KW you got me on this one.
You have a vehicle licence
You had to pay the excise tax.
You had to have proof of insurance.
You probably had to have a "fuel sticker".( diesel)
You had to have an inspection sticker.
What the "H" is " authority to operate" ? ( detect a little frustration with legal affairs here)

Cop told me the lights were perfectly legal. Just can't have them on while on public roads.

Well Calvin, the best I can understand it has to do with proof of insurance. Of course you already have to carry an insurance card, and your insurance is filed with the state to get a registration, so I really don't get it. It is called a "Single State Registration (SSR)" but they still ticket you for "operating authority". SSR is not to be confused with "International Registration Plan (IRP) which is your actual registration for an interstate carrier.

If you own and/or operate trucks in the state of Maine you are going to deal with the State Police on a regular basis, so I really shouldn't feel bad about getting a ticket every now and then. We should be on the same side, wanting to make the roads safer, but I have come to realize that it is all about the money for the state. And it is far worse today than it was even four years ago, THANK YOU BALDACCI!

The meeting's tonight on this issue

smoking ban in Bangor?

Next step. No smoking at home with kids. Its accepted "fact" that smoking around kids in bad for their health.

Looks like we'll be needing still more foster parents.

The ban apparently passed according to WABI 11 o'clock news. Does anyone expect its legality to be challenged?

By whom?

These bullies know they can get away with it because no one has the money to take them on. They know they can freely ocntinue the bigotry because no one will stand against them.

The measure only bans smoking tobacco products :oops:

FROM Stavros Mendros in Part:

Actually Stavrous, the Dr. was on WVOM this morning gloatting and when asked where next his reply was "AUGUSTA!" Seems he feelings pretty good about himself and saw other measures of "CONTROLS" coming out of cities and now state law. :shock:

So get ready! :lol:

Towncrier

Council supports smoking ban in cars

By Meg Haskell
Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - Bangor Daily News

BANGOR - In 10 days, Bangor will become the first city in Maine, perhaps in the nation, to ban adults from smoking in any motor vehicle when children are present.

In a 6-3 vote Monday night, the Bangor City Council approved a measure that prohibits any driver or passenger from lighting up a cigarette or other smoking material in a motor vehicle if anyone under age 18 is in the vehicle. Violators of the new city ordinance can be fined $50. The law applies to any motor vehicle on any public road within the city limits.

SOURCE

I'm concerned about the precident this sets. What's next, soda? Chocolate bars?

Seriously, can this law even be legal?

Why not double the fine if you are caught speeding while in possession of a child?

I don't think they can enforce this unless it's a state motor vehicle law. I don't believe towns can make individual motor vehicle laws.

I wonder if they are going to "enforce" this on I-95 that passes through Bangor? Is the city going to make laws for federal highways now?

I wonder if the good dentist likes to take a drink now and then? I wonder if perhaps he might be carrying a few extra pounds around? I wonder if he talks on his cell phone while driving (strutting around) the streets of Bangor in his BMW (anyone of his stature must have a Beemer, right?), all behaviors that contribute significantly to healthcare costs!

My wife just went down through our checkbook register. We have been doing a lot of work on our home this past year so it all adds up. But, not counting purchases at Home Depot on our credit card, we have spent a little over $7,000 in Bangor in 2006.

Guess what Bangor? We ain't going to do it any more. We are about equidistant to Ellsworth. We can buy anything we need in Ellsworth, and will. We can also buy it in your twin city, Brewer.

We are going to take our business to cities and towns where the town fathers do not feel so arrogant and smug that they feel the need to legislate the personal behavior of their visitors!

Hey Bangor City Councilors: If I had a web cam you could look at me sitting here with both middle digits stuck up at you. Take your arrogant, do-gooderness and your personal behaviour law enforcement and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. You won't be seeing much of us in the future and even less of our money!

My wife and I are thinking of putting two child-size dummies in the back seat of our van and driving around Bangor, especially in the prescence of every police car we can find, and arrogantly puff in front of them. Though I have not been a smoker since 1990 I could puff for the occasion if need be. But the personal behavior police have probably got a law against taunting an officer !