BURLINGTON, Vt. — Want a cigarette while you’re driving with your kids in the car? Not in Vermont, which is getting ready to implement some of the nation’s strictest antismoking laws, including a provision that would allow police to pull over anyone seen smoking with young children in the car and fine them $100.
On Tuesday, Vermont will be the seventh state in the country to ban smoking in cars carrying children and the sixth to outlaw smoking in hotel rooms.
Dr. Harry Chen, the state’s health commissioner, said Friday it is hoped that the new laws will encourage smokers to quit and protect the health of people who are around smokers, including children and hotel staff members who could be exposed to secondhand smoke.
The law comes 27 years after Vermont implemented its first antismoking law and 50 years after the surgeon general first ruled smoking is dangerous. Chen estimated that since 1964, smoking has killed 20 million people in the United States.
‘‘Tobacco is still the No. 1 killer,’’ Chen said....
And it is legal!
Vermont State Police Lt. Garry Scott, traffic safety commander, said troopers have been informed of the new law and they are ready.
"It's going to be difficult to figure out how old the kid in the car is, but if you see a car seat in the car and the operator is smoking there's grounds to at least stop the vehicle and they can investigate from there what's going on in the car."
That's all the clips need: another reason to stop you.
The law contains an exception for the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, which can permit smoking in designated areas.
Yeah, let them smoke themselves to death while the VA delays their appointments.
--more--"
Globe must have saw the cop up ahead and put out the smoke.
