Bill Targets Smoking in Vehicles with Child Passengers

Merritt says every Hoosier "is affected by this scourge in one way or another."

State Senator Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) has submitted a bill that would make smoking inside a vehicle while children under six are inside illegal. Our partners at WIBC report the bill would have offenders fined $1,000 for the first infraction and $10,000 for drivers that are caught smoking with children in the car three times in less than a year.

Although it may be challenging to enforce, Sen. Merritt said the bill he introduced is intended to protect children from breathing in second-hand smoke.

"Smoking is a danger to yourself as well as others, and to be riding along in a car and getting second-hand smoke is just not acceptable for anyone but more so for children who just don’t have a choice," Sen. Merritt told WIBC.

The bill will now be discussed before a Senate committee for review. Read the full story from WIBC here.