Nanny State

[Zarniwoop]

So the do-gooders and the Government now want to pass a new law that states it is illegal to smoke in cars with Children..

   Brilliant.. Cos responsible parents aren't already doing that !!!!   

As with the Mobile phone law, which clearly DIDN'T work, this is un-policable and just wastes every bodies time. The police are stretched too thin as it is trying to fight serious crime, terrorism as well as protecting lives and property. All this does it make a bunch of people feel better about themselves that they are making a difference to our lives. The truth is those that don't care about smoking around their children will not change their habits just because some government tells them it is illegal the world does not work that way.

It's really about time that they spent our tax money on things that help the country rather than wasting money and resources on sound-bytes or pointless laws in a blatant attempt to garner votes for the upcoming elections.

... Coughs awkwardly as he steps down from his soapbox....

  

[Snakes in the Tiki Lounge]

Think of it this way; How many children does the legislation have to save from asthma, lung cancer and so on before it is considered worthwhile, Zarni? What percentage of people smoking in their car before this legislation would need to quit doing so whilst their children are in there for this act to be considered to have improved the world in some small way?

A lot? A few? One?
Food for thought, at least.

[EvilGinger]

Basically a good idea but probably largely unenforceable as with the mobile phone ban as the police will turn a blind eye to avoid the paper work. They already do this with other minor crimes as they at least feel that are  over stretched as badly designed targets gamed by senior leadership and cuts to funding have eaten away at the forces morale and confidence.

The same thing happened to the NHS, and it makes me bloody furious to put it mildly.

 Ginger

[Zarniwoop]

Think of it this way; How many children does the legislation have to save from asthma, lung cancer and so on before it is considered worthwhile, Zarni? What percentage of people smoking in their car before this legislation would need to quit doing so whilst their children are in there for this act to be considered to have improved the world in some small way?

A lot? A few? One?
Food for thought, at least.

Well in the short term it may influence a few people who smoke out the window and think thats ok, but once the publicity for the law has died down it will be forgotten. Just look at the row in the news today about Kids being left in the car, I didn't know until this report that there is a law against this and has been in place for some time.

The trouble with using legislation to effect social behavior is that it is a fire and forget scenario as the politicians move onto something else.
Prolonged informational campaigns I would think would be more effective and can be re-ignited to renew awareness, whereas putting a law in place makes people think "Job Done" then never revisit the problem.

I don't pretend to have all the answers but it seems all too easy to just pass a law and think that solves the problem.

[Snakes in the Tiki Lounge]

I don't necessarily disagree with any of that. I do say that it's hard to objectively look at the law and say it's anything but a positive thing, if only in a small way, but it's not going to do much long term without further effort, nor help tackle the wider issue of the harmful effects of smoking especially on children.

But it's a start, and it's not like the politicians would have used their time any more productively if they hadn't been voting on this law.

[EvilGinger]

enforcement is always the issue & to degree education. though seeing folks done for stuff is educational in and of itself. I do agree making a law and then not enforcing it is a waist of time effort and energy. However as has been said what else would they have used the same time for and would it have been even useful in theory?   

 Ginger