Smoking Ban Starts Wednesday For Ontario Cars That Carry Children

Lighting up Wednesday in a car in Ontario could bring a fine of $250 if the police see evidence a child also rides in that car, even if they aren't riding when you inhale that cigarette.

Starting Wednesday it is illegal to smoke in any vehicle that a child rides in. Ontario joins Nova Scotia and several American states that have a car smoking ban. The new law is in place to protect children under the age of 16 from second hand smoke. Studies have shown that second hand smoke becomes highly concentrated inside cars and trucks. The ban has been talked about since 2004. That is when the Ontario Medical Association started a push to protect young people from the effects of second hand smoke. The Canadian Press reports:

"First-hand smoke and second-hand smoke we understand is dangerous, and third-hand we're now learning about as well," said OMA president Dr. Ken Arnold.

"Certainly putting people with young, healthy lungs in a tin box and having someone light up just seems so unfair to those children."

If you think that opening a car window keeps that smoke away from others you would be wrong. Cars retain the smoke in dust and on surfaces for days and even months after you put the cigarette out.