Smoke protection for 8-year-olds

From July 1 it will be unlawful in Virginia, US, for a person to smoke inside a vehicle when a child eight years of age or younger is present, according to a story by Rhonda Simmons for the Charlottesville Daily Progress.

But smoking inside a vehicle with a child will be a secondary violation, meaning violators would have to be pulled over for another reason before being cited for this smoking offense. The violation is punishable by a civil penalty of $100.

The bill’s sponsor, Todd Pillion R, a Virginia House Delegate and a pediatric dentist, told the Daily Press earlier this year that “this is not about big brother government”.

“It’s about little brother in the back seat struggling to breathe,” said Pillion. “Even if the car windows are open, smoke whips back into the back seat. I’m very passionate about this cause.”

On Wednesday, Pillion told the Star-Exponent that he was pleased with the new law. ‘We were able to pass legislation to help protect children’s health at one of the most critical stages of development,’ he said in a written statement.

‘I see the negative effects of second-hand smoke every day in my office. We all realize the heightened risk that it poses to developing lungs.

‘This threshold was chosen because state law requires children eight and under to be in a child safety restraint.’