A bill that would make it illegal to smoke in your car when kids are in it is heard – but not voted on – in a Senate committee.
Lawmakers on the Public Health Committee asked a handful of questions; including how the new law would be enforced since a police officer couldn’t just pull someone over if they see them smoking in the car and children were inside. The answer: the smoker would have to be committing a different crime too, which left State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) skeptical of the bill’s effectiveness.
“The likelihood of much enforcement is going to be, probably, limited,” said Syverson.
Lawmakers also wondered if the proposed law would include convertibles; it would. However, it would not apply to people riding motorcyles.
The bill was not voted on during this hearing and there is no word on when it will be called for a vote.