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“The government needs to keep its nose out of our personal lives. … They are out of control,” Lori DePaolis Davis commented on The Danbury Daily Voice Facebook page.
The bill, HB 5380, was the subject of a public hearing before the Transportation Committee in Hartford on Wednesday. It had the support of 23 legislators signed on as co-sponsors, in addition to Genga and the six others who introduced the bill. The bill aims to protect young children from secondhand smoke, according to a statement from Genga, a Democrat from East Hartford.
“I think it is none of their business,” Tisa Lopez Keating commented. “Also it is a common sense issue. The minute the government gets involved is no good. What is next? What we listen to when kids are in the car?”
But others in Danbury said they support the ban on smoking with kids in the car.
“I support banning smoking in cars that I am in,” Debra Oria commented. “I get why they want to protect kids who can’t speak up on their own behalf from secondhand smoke. Not all adults think about these things.”
Although Oria said she supports the ban, she questions whether it would have teeth.
“But how would that be enforced?” she said. “It would be difficult.”
If the bill were to pass, drivers would face a one-year transition period where violators caught smoking would only be issued a warning. After the transition period, anyone caught smoking with young children in the car would be issued a ticket. The wording of the bill would allow police to stop drivers if they see a cigarette, pipe or cigar near a driver's mouth.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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