Police and local health-care professionals are applauding the recent passing of Bill 69 that protects children from second-hand smoke in cars.
The bill, an amendment to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act was introduced earlier this year and passed its final reading June 16 in the Ontario legislature.
Nancy Bell, a public health nurse at Simcoe Muskoka District Health Units, says health units across the province have been very supportive of the legislation from day one.
“The dangers of second-hand smoke are huge,” she says, adding second hand smoke in a closed up car can be about 27 times more potent than in an open space.
Bell says the health effects of second-hand smoke are serious in adults, but are even more of an issue with children, a fact that is now well documented by firm science.
“It’s not a question anymore of the side effects. We have these little people in this concentrated place where the smoke is so strong … they breathe much faster so the effects are much greater.”
Midland Police Chief Paul Hamelin says it will be the job of police to enforce the new legislation.
“Who (is) more likely to come in contact with people smoking in cars when children are present than a police officer who routinely stops cars for traffic offences or to check for normal traffic things we (already) enforce? When we’re out doing patrol, if something comes to our attention, such as someone disobeying traffic signs, speeding, etc, we pull them over. This is no different than if we see a person driving and don’t have seatbelt on. We would stop them and deal with the issue.”
Bell says, as a health professional, she is extremely happy the bill passed.
“The public is happy too,” she adds.
“There was tremendous support for this bill from the beginning. Generally, when people thought about it, they knew this is not something that should be happening together. Everyone wants to protect their children, and I think it will be a pretty easy transition from seeing people smoking in cars with kids under 16 to a time when just won’t see it anymore.”
