January 1, 2012 – New Jersey’s New Year’s Resolution will be to end the use of adults smoking tobacco in vehicles with children 16 years and younger by renewing the bill named “A1591”. “A1591” is the bill designed to ban smoking tobacco products in vehicles with children present. A penalty fine of $100 will benefit the “Smoking Cessation Fund”, which will have a one time cost of $40,000 to establish.

New Jersey will define smoke with children present as any form of burning of, inhaling from, or exhaling from any tobacco product such as a cigarette, pipe, or cigar. Although a fine of at least $100 will be given to drivers who violate this law, drivers of vehicles will not receive points or automobile insurance eligibility points for violations. In addition, no surcharge will be given to violators.

Keyport, New Jersey has been enforcing an ordinance ban on smoking tobacco in vehicles while children are present since April 2007. However, the offense is a secondary one and drivers can only be given a ticket when pulled over for another offense, such as speeding. The motive for this ban is to encourage positive public policy to care for children’s health. The fine in Keyport for this violation is currently $75.

Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D professor at Temple University explains that nearly 70% of adolescents who attend high school have tried smoking tobacco within the last 6 months, and about 50% of those will continue smoking tobacco on a daily basis.

The intended outcome of passing “A1591” hopes to decrease the risk of children exposed to tobacco smoke, decrease the chance of children smoking tobacco as adults, and promote better education about smoking tobacco overall. However, currently this bill is pending within New Jersey Legislation and needs to be renewed in January, 2012.

In addition to this bill being passed in New Jersey Legislation, it will be a stride toward making New Jersey a smoke-free state and a stepping stone toward other bills against tobacco use in the state.

Any further information about “A1591” should be found at:
New Jersey’s Proposal
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A2000/1591_I1.PDF
Annual Cost and Revenue
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A2000/1591_F1.PDF
Official and Pending Bills in States
http://www.njgasp.org/f_SF%20cars,kids,%20info,%20arguments.pdf

Any further questions should be directed toward:
Dan Smith, Hamilton Democratic Township Committee, Representative of Wayne P. DeAngelo – dsmith@njleg.org

Sign the petition to represent a portion of your community!
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For more information about the community petition for bill named “A1591” please contact Heather Geraghty at Heather042786@yahoo.com