"Vehicles with Children Onboard Are Legally Smoke-Free" Spreading in the US... What About in Korea?

"West Virginia, High Adult Smoking Rate"

Smoking is legally prohibited in vehicles when children are present in 11 states in the United States. The photo is unrelated to the content of the article. [Asia Economy DB]

The state of West Virginia in the United States is reportedly pushing a bill to ban smoking inside vehicles when children are present.

On the 12th (local time), U.S. News reported that smoking inside vehicles with children is prohibited in 11 states across the U.S., and West Virginia is also highly likely to implement such a ban. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has pointed out that West Virginia has a higher adult smoking rate than any other state nationwide.

Recently, the state legislature passed a bill imposing fines on those caught smoking in vehicles with passengers aged 16 or younger. The bill passed with 25 votes in favor and 8 against and has now moved to the House of Delegates. However, its passage in the House remains uncertain, as similar bills have failed in the past. Senator Tom Takubo, a physician and legislator, has introduced legislation to ban smoking in vehicles with children in West Virginia every year since 2017, but with little success.

[Image source=Getty Images]

Notably, there is considerable opposition to the bill. Republican Senator Mike Azinger stated that the state government has no right to infringe on parental freedom. A spokesperson for Senator Azinger said, "The arguments against the bill are essentially emotional claims," adding, "This undermines parents' right to make decisions about when their children get out of the car."

Currently, 11 states including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia prohibit smoking while driving when children are present.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, the Passenger Transport Service Act prohibits smoking by transport workers inside vehicles and bans smoking on public transportation. Transport workers who violate the no-smoking rule inside vehicles must pay a fine of 100,000 won. However, there is no legislation under the Road Traffic Act regulating smoking while driving.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.