Smoking

[boinky 0]

I heard on the radio this morning that the legislators are considering making it a law that you can't smoke in your car. Your own personal car, for Christ's sake!!! They claim it causes wrecks. Sheesh.....

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!! Now, I don't smoke, but I believe that if a person wants to do so on their own time in their own private vehicle, who in the Hell are THEY to stop them?

Hey, let's take out radios, heaters, air conditioners, mirrors. Oh, and let's ban manual transmissions. Any or all of these things make you take a hand off the steering wheel and have to pay attention to more than one thing at a time.

What's next? Banning sex in our own homes? Their logic.....Sex leads to orgasms, which leads to endorphins, which leads to happiness, even if only temporarily. What happened to, "...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Perhaps they need to re-read the Declaration of Independence.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[Dougjumper 0]

Aw..Well Shit happens dont need smoke in your lungs anyway..too many people talking on damn cell phones while driving as well when they need to be paying attention to the road and not be distracted. As far as the Smoke, Your lungs were not made to put that shit inside of them only oxygen to breath and CO2 to exhale. But if you want to kill yourself go ahead its your right to Smoke. Just dont Smoke around me and use up my O2. I like Clean Fresh Air.

I do agree they need to focus on more important issues. For one our Senators and Congressmen need to quit writing Hot checks damnit. Hell, you write a hot check here and dont take care of it ..You go to Jail.

The glass is half full or half empty doesn't matter. Let go and have the Lord guide your path. He will take care of it all.

[aftermid 0]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1748710;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

[Rebecca 0]

Unfortunately, it's gotten so that stupid idiots who can't keep their priorities straight - i.e. keeping your eyes on the road while driving - are going to determine these things for us.

I see SO MANY people everyday doing three other things in their cars besides driving - looking for smokes, lighting smokes, throwing butts, talking on the gd cell phone, eating, reading, putting on makeup, oh shit I just dropped my cig, "Oops I'm supposed to turn left here", "Sorry, were you in my way?", "Ooooh lookie there's a sale", ...

Sad, but frankly if stats show that this will make roads safer, I'll take it.

They should just get rid of the idiots. That would solve a lot. I actually got teased the other day because I drive with both (gasp!) hands on the wheel.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[goose491 0]

I agree that it is a bit much... But, that's only given how far we have deteriorated the sense of responsibility in a car.

To play devils advocate for just a minute: If you recal, the proper way to drive a car (as per the owners manual and all official training classes) is with both hands on the wheel. Smoking a cigarette, for most, impedes your ability to put them there.

If you ride a motorcycle, you soon become aware that most people do all within their power to not concentrate on what they are doing when driving a car. lol. I work in insurance. There is no arguing the great number of car accidents caused by a driver momentarily looking away from the road to light a smoke.

Again, it's not that I would push for such a law. But you saying: "You own personal car, for christ's sake!!!" does in fact display that you think about you in your car... and forget about others in theirs.

Perhaps if this new potential law had been worded "The highways will be non-smoking areas." then it would be a clearer message. The road is shared by a great many people. All risking their lives to get where they are going... Not just you, sittin' pretty and smoking away.

[takes off the devil horns and advocates italian suit]



Nick

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[kelel01 1]

If you do away with smoking, you have to do away with all other distractions. I guess we'd start by closing down every drive thru, since many people go to drive thrus in order to eat in their cars. And no more radios, CD's, mp3 players, etc.

[Slappie 9]

Seriously this is just an outrage. I would get on my soap box, but I have other things to worry about. I gave up smoking April 4th and haven't had one since.

Now you wanna talk about driving distractions? SHUT UP AND DRIVE (get rid of the cell phone driving morons)

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[jumpchikk 0]

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If you do away with smoking, you have to do away with all other distractions. I guess we'd start by closing down every drive thru, since many people go to drive thrus in order to eat in their cars. And no more radios, CD's, mp3 players, etc.

Yeah, no more passengers in the car because they could possibly give road head and thus cause a HUGE distraction...

[Vallerina 2]

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If you do away with smoking, you have to do away with all other distractions. I guess we'd start by closing down every drive thru, since many people go to drive thrus in order to eat in their cars. And no more radios, CD's, mp3 players, etc.

I'm pretty sure it's Minnesota already has laws in place that prohibit anything distracting like eating, smoking, cell phones, etc.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[lisamariewillbe 1]

In georgia you cant drive while talking on your phone , I am pretty sure, but then again I wouldnt know or care, Im the one everyone hates, I have even put panty hose on while driving. Knee holding the wheel straight, phone in one hand , cig in the other hand with a big mac sitting on my lap

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[kelel01 1]

Cell phones are not banned in most parts of GA (while driving). The most recent large-scale ban we've had is the indoor smoking ban.

[grue 1]

I don't agree with it on a distraction level, I agree with it because, in no particular order:

1. It's damned annoying to sit in traffic and have to smell smoke from other cars.

2. It's annoying as shit when smokers fling their butts out the window and bounce 'em off my car, for one, and for two, it's littering. Smokers in general seem to be about the most inconsiderate demographic I've ever found in terms of cleanliness. They leave their shit all over the place. The world is NOT your ashtray.

3. Maybe it'll cut back on the amount of parents who smoke with their kids in the car. The kids don't smoke, don't force it down their throat. Any responsible parent should be looking out for the best interests of their progeny, and that does NOT include giving them cancer.

cavete terrae.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

that hasnt hit us yet, at least not in St Marys and if it has then no one listens. We still walk into convience stores with a smoke lit.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[boinky 0]

I am not necessarily talking JUST about banning smoking in cars. I'm talking about the fact that the government allows things to be created. They want people to enjoy and become accustomed to them. Then, just when it's become "the norm," they come back and try to change the rules. Where do you draw the line?

There are other things that we take our hands off the wheel for. Sneezing and scratching, for instance. These are uncontrollable bodily functions that require us to use a hand for. I'm pretty sure that if you sneeze saliva/boogers all over your windshield, it could cause a wreck because you can't see. And if your back itches, and you wriggle back and forth in your seat, trying to soothe that itch, you could cause a wreck because your wiggling body is going to make your hands wiggle while they are tightly gripping on the wheel.

I'm not fighting the Smoking war, because I feel it's a person's right to smoke if they want to. I just wonder if those legislators REALLY care about keeping people safe from careless drivers or if they're just looking to push some "vote" buttons.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[lisamariewillbe 1]

1. So do you drive a car that gives off any amount of exhaust? If so stop driving I dont want to smell your fumes...or better yet, roll the fucking window up.

2. Funny how you can generalize a group of people. I for one do not use the world as my ashtray, I recycle, and belong to a volunteer highway cleanup crew.

3. So if a parent cant smoke in there car, whats next, ban smoking in my home? Whooo maybe we can ban kool-aid, diet coke, tv dinners, peanut butter and jelly and everything else that has a chance of being harmful. I agree dont smoke with kids in the car, but I live in america, I am free and Ill be damned if I allow my rights to be taken away from me. Until smoking cigerettes is illigal I will continue to do what I do.

Step off your high horse.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Vallerina 2]

http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=20069
Well, I think Minnesota has a similar law:

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New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't require adult motorists to wear seat belts, but it does ticket drivers for eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone or fussing with their makeup while behind the wheel.

The state whose motto is "Live Free or Die" passed the nation's first law against distracted driving in 2001.

I wouldn't be surprised if most states eventually adopted similar laws.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[aftermid 0]

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Sad, but frankly if stats show that this will make roads safer, I'll take it.

They should just get rid of the idiots. That would solve a lot. I actually got teased the other day because I drive with both (gasp!) hands on the wheel.

I'm a nonsmoker. Statistically, crime would go down if a nationwide 10pm curfew was rigorously enforced; thus saving lives. Would you be in favor of such a curfew? Why can't we pass judgment on people when their actions actually cause consequences don't just have the potential for consequence? Talking to or being distracted by passenger adds an additional cause for alarm. Should there be some kind plexiglass partition installed to isolate the driver from being distracted?

Riding in a car is an inherently dangerous activity. You assume somewhat of a risk by getting behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. If some a$$hole runs into you because he or she is smoking or talking on their cell phone then you (or your estate) have infinite legal recourse. If a police officer observes an individual driving recklessly because of such activities there are any number of laws already on the books that can be enforced.

It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety.

[grue 1]

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2. Funny how you can generalize a group of people. I for one do not use the world as my ashtray, I recycle, and belong to a volunteer highway cleanup crew.

I distinctly remember using the phrases "in general" and "seem to be".

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3. So if a parent cant smoke in there car, whats next, ban smoking in my home? Whooo maybe we can ban kool-aid, diet coke, tv dinners, peanut butter and jelly and everything else that has a chance of being harmful. I agree dont smoke with kids in the car, but I live in america, I am free and Ill be damned if I allow my rights to be taken away from me. Until smoking cigerettes is illigal I will continue to do what I do.

Personally, yes, I feel it should be illegal to smoke around children completely. Kool-Aid, Diet Coke, TV Dinners, PB&J haven't been linked to as many causes of sickness and/or death as smoking have, and the children make the choice to consume those anyway. They don't make the choice to be born to parents who blatantly disregard the wellbeing of their children.

I personally don't care if people smoke around other smokers, and for that matter, I don't have a problem with people out and killing themselves. It's their life. It's when they start damaging the lives of others, especially others that can't do anything about it, that I begin to get annoyed.

cavete terrae.

[Slappie 9]

Quote

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Sad, but frankly if stats show that this will make roads safer, I'll take it.

They should just get rid of the idiots. That would solve a lot. I actually got teased the other day because I drive with both (gasp!) hands on the wheel.

I'm a nonsmoker. Statistically, crime would go down if a nationwide 10pm curfew was rigorously enforced; thus saving lives. Would you be in favor of such a curfew? Why can't we pass judgment on people when their actions actually cause consequences don't just have the potential for consequence? Talking to or being distracted by passenger adds an additional cause for alarm. Should there be some kind plexiglass partition installed to isolate the driver from being distracted?

Riding in a car is an inherently dangerous activity. You assume somewhat of a risk by getting behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. If some a$$hole runs into you because he or she is smoking or talking on their cell phone then you (or your estate) have infinite legal recourse. If a police officer observes an individual driving recklessly because of such activities there are any number of laws already on the books that can be enforced.

It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety.

Out of everything you typed... this line It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety is what most people don't seem to see nor understand.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[goose491 0]

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If you do away with smoking, you have to do away with all other distractions. I guess we'd start by closing down every drive thru, since many people go to drive thrus in order to eat in their cars. And no more radios, CD's, mp3 players, etc.

The radio (and other musice players) are not quite as culprit. Listening to music does not impeed your ability to focus on the road. And it's the law that the the radio in your car be installed such that you can operate it without taking your eyes off the road. It is also your responsibility as a driver to learn to do so.

Eating... I'm guilty of it but the road is simply not the place and deep down, we all know it. Accidents are caused because of peple eating in their cars... are you about to say they aren't? But again, not quite as culprit as smoking.

You can say how some peopel are too dumb to multy task but can you imagine what things would be like if we all paid attention to what we were doing on the road?

I'm not kidding in my earlier post. Some of you more cynical types should call your insurance companies and ask claim report takers just how many accidents occur in a year because someone was lighting up a butt.. or fiddling around in their car for one.. or freaking out because they fired one out the window and then thought they could smell the carpet burning and got paranoid that it didn't really clear the window... or are patting their laps to stop the burning because a cinder fell on them...

All of these happen very frequently.

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[lisamariewillbe 1]

making a "general" statement about smokers, is like making a general statement about any "group" change the word smoker, to black person, gay, or white person and it is derogratory (sp)

actually there are MORE cases of Peanut butter killing children then second hand smoke. Children dont choose to consume foods they are forced to, you must not have children or seen mommy dearest. I dont believe in smoking around my kids but that is my choice, my children just found out I smoke less then a year ago

If you dont like someone smoking in THEIR car or THEIR home, then dont go there. If we made laws to always protect everyone, there wouldnt be skydiving, driving, sex, or bowling.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[boinky 0]

I agree wholeheartedly. When did personal life choices become a target for creating new laws?


Did you know that there is already a curfew in certain cities in Georgia for young adults under 18? And if they are caught out, the PARENT gets fined?

It's easy for politicians to make up some of these rules because they don't have to live in our daily lives or shoes. Not all of us make their salaries and can afford chauffeur's to drive us around.

Smoking for some is a stress breaker, or so I've been told. We all have things that we do to relieve stress. It's all about freedom of choice.

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It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety.

Let's talk about taxes for a minute. I actually wonder if they aren't shooting themselves in the foot. There are HUGE taxes on cigarettes. If they prevent people from smoking in cars, it will cut down on the sales of cigarettes. Consequently it will reduce the amount of taxes that are paid, and thereby reducing the amount of cash flow for other purposes.

If the cigarette tax flow becomes a trickle, it's going to have to be made up somewhere, perhaps raising income taxes, yet again? The government is not going to reduce their spending spree.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[Rebecca 0]

Actually, listening to the radio and singing along can improve alertness and prevent drowsiness - it's a benefit in the car.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[Vallerina 2]

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It's all additional tax revenue wrapped up in the package of public safety.

I do agree with that, and I also think part of it is insurance companies lobbying for such laws (at least that's what some of the Fellows I knew were doing.) It's rare that it happens, but I'm split on this. It's kind of like saying, "Well, why should cops ticket you for running a red light?" Running a red light is dangerous, and you can kill someone by doing so. Eating, smoking, talking on a cell phone are also dangerous while driving a car, and it could also kill people. But, then of course you run into, "Well, where does the regulation stop?" People don't like to be regulated, and laws scare people. Like someone had mentioned, police can already kind of get you for it in some states, but it seems like many states are just clarifying the law.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[skycat 0]

My biggest complaint about smoking in cars is the people who toss their butts out the window. The last few years we have been at the highest level fire danger and all it takes is one little butt to destroy 1000s of acres and many homes.

Fly it like you stole it!