No More Smoking in Cars with Children Present

Contact: Andy Weisser, 818-703-6444, aweisser@alac.org

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 24 /Standard Newswire/ -- California's new "Smoke-Free Cars with Minors" law takes effect on January 1, giving California the most comprehensive smoke-free car law in the nation, and providing smokers another reason to make a successful New Year's Resolution to kick the habit.

The California legislature passed the law in response to compelling scientific evidence that smoking in cars exposes passengers, especially children, to high levels of toxic secondhand smoke. The law prohibits smoking in a motor vehicle (stationary or moving) in which a youth under the age of 18 is present. A violation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 and categorized as a secondary offense, meaning an officer may not pull over a vehicle for the sole purpose of checking if someone is smoking with a minor present.

According to the 2006 Surgeon General's Report, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Peak levels of secondhand smoke from smoking in a car can be up to 10 times greater than the level which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers hazardous, according to a study recently published by a team of environmental scientists from Stanford University.

"Passengers, especially youth, are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic air contaminants when someone is smoking in a car," said Paul Knepprath, vice president, government relations for the American Lung Association of California. "Fortunately California leads the world in creating healthier, smoke-free environments for its citizens and we are pleased that California youth will benefit from this vital new health protection."

Health advocates believe that the new law will result in fewer cigarettes being smoked in cars and fewer cigarette butts being tossed. If so, cigarette litter will be reduced and the risk of wildfires diminished.

While smoking has declined dramatically in California, there are still four million people in the state who smoke. Now is the time for a New Year's Resolution to quit smoking. For people who want to quit smoking, the American Lung Association offers free online support through its "Freedom From Smoking" program at www.ffsonline.org or by calling 800.LUNG.USA and choosing option "2" to reach the American Lung Association's free HelpLine staffed by registered nurses and respiratory therapists.

To help motivate smokers to quit, the American Lung Association has launched a new public service announcement (PSA) from filmmaker Wagner Portocarrero, called "Smoking Frustrations." The PSA, which Portocarrero created and donated to the American Lung Association of California, will be used nationwide, ends with the tagline "Find your Freedom From Smoking" and encourages people to quit smoking through the association's Freedom From Smoking(r) program. (To view "Smoking Frustrations," visit http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/video.html and scroll down below the Carol Burnett PSA.) In the New Year, the American Lung Association will release its annual report card on the efforts of each state to prevent smoking and promote smoke-free environments in its State of Tobacco Control Report.

ON THE WEB: http://www.californialung.org