COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers are considering a law banning drivers from smoking if there's a passenger in the car under the age of 6.
Senate Bill 78, sponsored by state Sen. Tina Maharath, D-Canal Winchester, proposes a $500 fine for violators of the law, and for subsequent violations to be fined $500 plus $250 for each additional violation.
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The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Similar bills have been considered in the last session and the session before that. The law has been promoted as a way to protect children from the health consequences of second-hand smoke, which can lead to asthma, ear infections and other health problems.
Ohio has a poor record when it comes to children exposed to the health risks of second-hand smoke. Ohio ranked 49th out of 50 when it comes to states with the highest percent of children who live in a home where someone uses tobacco and smokes inside the home, according to Health Policy Institute of Ohio's 2017 Health Value Dashboard.
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Other states such as Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Utah and Vermont have already adopted restrictions on smoking with minors in vehicles.