Jump to full article: Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News, 2009-03-22
Author: Sabrina Atencio
Intro: I want to respond to the article by Walt Rubel about proposed bill SB-44 that prohibits smoking in cars where minors are present. This bill is intended to protect the 35 to 45 percent of children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in homes and vehicles regularly (Harvard School of Public Health). . . .
Mr. Rubel argues that this bill is unfair to smokers who smoke with the windows down. In a study done by Dr. Neil Klepeis of Stanford University, within 20 seconds of a smoker lighting a cigarette in a car the levels of fine particulate matter can exceed the hazardous level set by the Environmental Protection Agency whether the windows are up or down.
Arkansas, Louisiana, and California have already passed similar laws. In California this particular law has been shown to make exposing children to secondhand smoke less socially accepted and has led to more smokers not allowing smoking in their homes and areas where their children will be exposed.
Hopefully this bill will get passed in New Mexico and people will really see the dangers that second hand smoking is causing innocent children.
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