A Suffolk County legislator proposed a bill Tuesday that would prohibit smoking in cars with children inside.
Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fischer (D-Setauket) introduced the measure. "You could smoke in your car all you want, but not with your kids in it because you're hurting them," Viloria-Fischer said. "It's not their choice to smoke and you're having them smoke because of your bad choices."
Under the bill, individuals would be fined $150 if caught smoking with kids in the car.
Nobody showed up to a public hearing Tuesday, but Minority Leader Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham) provided opposition. Losquadro said a car is personal property and it is not the function of government to legislate what people can and cannot do in their property.
The bill must pass through the health committee before presentation to the full Legislature. A vote could come as soon as next month.