Huffing At Puffers Behind Wheel

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 27, 2006

HE SAID SHE SAID WITH DAVID AND TANYA OF KO-FM 102.9

HE SAID

LAST week, South Australia became one of the first places in the world to ban smoking in cars where there are passengers under the age of 16. Tasmania is set to follow suit. Under the new legislation, motorists caught will be subject to a $75 on the spot fine. No ifs, no butts!

What concerns me about this legislation is not the obvious health benefits but the civil rights aspect. Smoking is not illegal in South Australia, or any other state for that matter, yet the powers-that-be have waved their wand and said you cannot smoke in your own car if any of your passengers are under the age of 16. What right does any government have to enforce such a law? We're not talking about a public facility here where non-smokers could be forced to endure the perils of passive smoking. This is a privately owned, privately paid for vehicle on which you have paid your registration, licence and insurance fees and which is solely owned and operated by you! If governments have the power to ban smoking in a vehicle where there are underage passengers, what's stopping them from extending the ban to your very own home which may house children too?

From a health and safety aspect, there is no argument. From a basic civil rights aspect, this is a complete violation of one's rights. If they want to get serious about it, then make cigarettes illegal . . . Aaah, but that would mean an awful lot of valuable revenue going up in smoke too.

SHE SAID

DO you ever find yourself taking the moral high ground and reproaching a complete stranger for their actions? Like when you're walking along the street and a guy coming towards you spits on the footpath. I've often heard myself mutter a sarcastic "lovely". Or when a pair of teenagers who, at first glance could be mistaken for Siamese twins joined at the lips, make squelchy, wet kissing noises whilst you're waiting in the line at the ATM and you can't help but say "Oh for God's sake, get a room". I have, and while I'm completely aware that nobody died and made me Chief Ethics Enforcer, it's sometimes hard to keep your opinions to yourself, especially if you just happen to be in a really bad mood and some poor unsuspecting, unprincipled pest crosses your path.

Well, good news if that describes you on occasion, because that is what these new laws encourage; mass condemnation of those who dare subject their innocent children, with their squeaky clean lungs, to passive smoke. It's not taking away the rights of adults to smoke. It's giving rights to those too young to speak for themselves. The vast majority of smokers won't be in any way affected by these new laws because they cherish their children and wouldn't dream of subjecting them to breathing inside a toxic bubble. This law is for the clueless and the cruel, and the quicker we make it legislation across the nation, the better off our kids will be.

David and Tanya can be heard on KO-FM 102.9 from 5.30am to 9am Monday to Friday. Email davidandtanya@kofm.com.au.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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