smoking legislation in australia

[dauodwa]

It has been recently been brought to my attention that a group based in the australian state of new south whales called "ash" is trying to pass legislation to ban all smoking in a vehicle, irregardless of if your on your own, have other smokers in the car et cetera. I think this is a preposteras piece of legislation, i mean hondreds of thousands of dollars would have to be spent to enforce the law. The point is taht they are trying to ban all smoking in private vehicle's, which means that you cant smoke in your own property! what do you think on this new legislation? I myself am quite against this legislation.

[LC Trucido]

That's absolute crap. It's none of the government's business if you want to smoke in your own car. For crying out loud, are they going to try to keep you from smoking in your house next? I don't smoke, myself, so it wouldn't affect me, but I still say it's ridiculous.

[stuck_fugu]

Well I think theres many reasons, but mainly these

1. It was keep the drivers attention on the road, rather than lighting/smoking a cigarette.
2. Say you drop your smoke on yourself and it's hot....
3. It discourages smoking

I don't say I support it, but I see where they're coming from.

[dauodwa]

Originally Posted by stuck_fugu

Well I think theres many reasons, but mainly these

1. It was keep the drivers attention on the road, rather than lighting/smoking a cigarette.
2. Say you drop your smoke on yourself and it's hot....
3. It discourages smoking

I don't say I support it, but I see where they're coming from.

Yes, i have considered your points, but in reply:
1. There are other distractions for drivers in car, eg water bottle, food et cetera.
2.There have been many cases in which a driver drops the cigi, but the fact is that they're are other things that have the same affect, like for example you where drinking cofee in the car on the way to work, and you spill it on your crotch, well you get the picture.
3. If anything, it gives the smoker more of an excuse to smoke at other times in public places, cause now, he or she cant smoke in his or her car, meaning that they have to smoke somewhere else.

As well as my counter points, if you will, they're is the fact that they also want to stop smoking in parked cars too, and this is relevant as 2 of your points where in concern to the ability of the driver to smoke and drive at the same time. the legislation really wants to restrict the ability of a smoker to smoke, thats why i dont approve.

[andrew247]

I had a look around the ASH website.
About banning the cigarettes:

There's been much debate in the media about whether smoking while driving should be banned - or at least when there are children, or passengers generally, in the car.

This suggests they know they won't be able to fully ban cigarettes in cars. I don't think they'll even press for a full ban - it's too unrealistic.
I think the reason they are trying to take action is to protect children and helpless passengers in the car from passive smoking. They seem to mention the safety benefits in their publications. I know all the stuff on there is hyped up media crap, but there is a lot of valid points.

Dauodwa: You seem pretty annoyed at anti-smoking ideas...I hope you don't plan to smoke when you're older

[GroundPounderUSMC]

I think it's unfair to the rights of the smoker. Granted, standing outside inline somewhere and your getting tagged in the face with smoke is no good. But in your personally owned vehicle?! That is unacceptable to me. Let someone come up to my window and tell me to drop my smoke. Whoa buddy it'll be like hellraiser part 5

[dauodwa]

Exactly groubd pounder. it is an attack on our civil rights, and thats why im against it. what are they gonna take away next?