Sanchez Serious About Second Hand Smoke

Bernadette Sanchez

Santa Fe, NM- A bill aimed at protecting children from secondhand smoke while riding in cars will be heard in Senate Judiciary committee on Friday (2/18/11). Senate Bill 212 (SB212) sponsored by Senator Bernadette Sanchez (D-Albuquerque), adds smoking in a motor vehicle with a minor restrained in a child passenger restraint device to the list of prohibited smoking areas as defined in the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act. "It's just a matter for safety for kids," said Sen. Sanchez, "Secondhand smoke causes asthma in children, and cars are really a condensed space." The Harvard School of Public Health estimated up to 45 percent of children are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke from adults using tobacco in homes and cars.
Researchers reported that in just five minutes, smoking in cars can produce unsafe levels of secondhand smoke for children. "You can't smoke in restaurants, office buildings and public buildings because of the dangers of secondhand smoke, the only area we haven't done is smoking in cars," commented Sen. Sanchez, who also said this will protect children who are small, eight and under. Senate Bill 212 still permits smoking in a limousine under private hire when a minor not required to be restrained in a child safety or booster seat is present. SB212 received a "Do Pass" recommendation from Senate Public affairs.

Sanchez Serious About Second Hand Smoke