Notes from your staff…

Dear Coalition Members,

On September 1st, 2008, An Act to Protect Children in Vehicles from Secondhand Smoke took effect here in Maine.

Staring on September 1, 2008 a warning will be given to motorists that are caught smoking in a vehicle when a child aged 16 years old or younger is present. The law carries a $50 fine for each offense that may be enforced following this 1-year warning period. Police officers are responsible for enforcing this law which prohibits search and seizure as a result of the violation. Violations are not moving violations and thus will not affect the offender’s driving record.

Please follow the link to learn more!

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/chappdfs/PUBLIC591.pdf

The exposure to tobacco smoke is real.

39% of Maine children in grades 6-12 report being exposed to secondhand smoke in a car. (2006 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey.)

Vehicles are small, confined spaces. Smoking in a car can expose children to very high concentrations of pollutants caused by secondhand smoke (’real time’ studies from Harvard and Stanford have shown mean levels of 8 to 33 times and peak levels from 14 to 57 times above healthy levels).

Children are often not able to tell a caregiver, parent, uncle or grandparent not to smoke. They have no recourse.

Second hand smoke causes numerous children’s ailments including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infection, respiratory tract infections and sudden infant death syndrome.

Maine has kept pace with the public’s growing awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke. Laws have been enacted restricting smoking in virtually every public space and workplace.

If you have a special interest in preventing children from being exposed to tobacco and would like to teach a one hour Tar Wars class to fifth graders in Androscoggin County please contact Lisa Dunning at dunninl@cmhc.org or 795-5792 to learn more.