Mississippi bill would ban smoking in cars if chilren present, wouldn't apply to e-cigarettes

[Bill Godshall]

SB 2016 was introduced last week, would ban smoking in cars if children under 17 are present, but doesn't apply to e-cigarettes.
SB2016 (As Introduced) - 2012 Regular Session

Since the bill defines smoking the same as an existing MS statute, and since MS hasn't banned e-cig use anywhere, SB 2016 won't apply to e-cig use.

(c) "Smoke and smoking" has the meaning given in Section 29-5-161.

 

[dordas23]

Nice that they've excluded ecigs. Seems awfully harsh on the smokers, though.

 

[milo hobo]

So if a 16 year old is driving his car down the road while smoking, he not only gets a ticket for possession of tobacco, but only for exposing minors (himself) to tobacco smoke?

 

[Placebo Effect]

Nice that they've excluded ecigs. Seems awfully harsh on the smokers, though.

The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends and even incentives communities to enact smoke-free legislation that includes e-cigarettes. As I recall, if you want money for signs advertising the no-smoking policy, the Department of Health has to specifically approve your request to amend the law.

I spoke to the contact person listed on the below PDF a month or so ago. I noted that nowhere in their packet, other than in the statutory definition of 'smoking,' are e-cigarettes referenced, and that it's misleading to not state their inclusion in any of packet's introductory pages. She quickly ended the conversation.

http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/4550.pdf

 

[Semiretired]

A while back a study was mentioned on a radio talk show that stated second hand smoke studies have shown that second hand smoke from the car next to you or passing you is as bad as in the car you are in... I want to see them pass something that can cover that and what do they think that car exhaust is doing to us...