Comments on: U.K.: “Roadblocks set up to catch drivers smoking”

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:33:50 +0000

There is no legitimate public health concern arising from the smoking of cigarettes in cars.

“The data for smoking causing direct harm to people outside the care are scant.”

I venture here to say non-existent.

By: Mark Phaedrus

Mark Phaedrus — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 02:23:44 +0000

Not only that, James, but the fact that my hypothetical ashtray has hypothetical cigarette butts doesn’t even mean that I’m smoking in my hypothetical car… I could be stepping outside the car for a smoke and then putting the butts in my ashtray to avoid violating the littering laws.

By: nevins

nevins — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:19:20 +0000

“This enforcement puts some teeth behind a legitimate public health initiative. Swing and a miss on this one, Olson.”
What James? Unless you are trying to convey sarcasm…

What is the public health concern that is sufficient to warrant the government snooping into private cars. The data for smoking causing direct harm to people outside the care are scant.
If someone smokes in a rental, then that should be a simple civil matter, charging their credit card for the few hundred dollar deep cleaning required. Do we really need the state to enforce with police and courts every detail of every little contract.

By: James

James — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 08:04:12 +0000

This enforcement puts some teeth behind a legitimate public health initiative. Swing and a miss on this one, Olson.

By: Ben S

Ben S — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Nothing I enjoy more than renting a “non-smoking” car (/hotel room) while on a trip and having to suffer through the lightly covered odors (odours in this case?) of its previous occupants. Can’t say I blame smokers for not wanting to be around other smokers’ residue either. And of course it was like that when they got there, too, right?

By: mojo

mojo — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:54:25 +0000

Look for a large increase in wildfires…

By: Mannie

Mannie — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:28:43 +0000

Throw the lit butts out the window.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:48:19 +0000

Maybe somebody has already come up with this –
Let’s call them “butt checks”

By: L Nettles

L Nettles — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:05:12 +0000

Nanny wants you to litter. No butts in the ashtray. Heck Nanny doesn’t want vehicles to have ashtrays