Weird German Law

[Hagar]

Now there's a complicated issue!

From what I understand, Tobacco is a large part of the economy (not quite as big as oil...but still pretty big).

My point exactly. It's not complicated at all. They don't dare make it illegal so instead do all they can to turn public opinion against the people addicted to it, making them into some sort of second class citizens. Strange how the same does not apply to people addicted to other drugs that are illegal. I agree that non-smokers should not be forced to put up with someone else's smoke. I also agree with it being banned in the workplace & other public areas but I strongly object to being victimised for my perfectly legal habit. It seems to get worse every day & the anti-smoking lobby is having a ball.  I'm fed up with the hypocrisy of it all.

[jordonj]

My point exactly. It's not complicated at all. They don't dare make it illegal so instead do all they can to turn public opinion against the people addicted to it, making them into some sort of second class citizens.

The rest of the story is that if someone wanted to smoke, the non-smoker simply had to put up with it...

[Hagar]

The rest of the story is that if someone wanted to smoke, the non-smoker simply had to put up with it...

I don't see how smoking in the open air comes into it, especially in a place like LA. Then you have the ridiculous situation with some towns in the UK where it's fine to smoke in the street but illegal to drop the butt when you've finished with it. If they object to the litter caused by discarded cigarette ends then provide suitable facilities (as in Singapore which is probably the cleanest place I've ever visited) to dispose of them safely.

[jordonj]

I don't see how smoking in the open air comes into it, especially in a place like LA.

It does make a difference...hospitals and courthouses don't put their smoking zones several feet away from the entrances for no reason.  It has already been shown (at least here) that smokers won't put them out voluntarily for the most part.  I once had a smoker who, when they could tell the smoke bothered me, blew a huge cloud into my dorm room in college.

I knew an elderly lady who was at a casino.  A man had sat down next to her, and was smoking a large cigar.  She had just had throat surgery and the smoke was hurting it.  He saw that she was uncomfortable and asked if the smoke bothered her.  She replied that it did.  Now the smoker's response was that she should "go somewhere else: people weren't going to not smoke just because she had surgery".

Unfortunately, this attitude proves to be more the rule than the exception with the smokers I've run into...

Back to the story though, her son (about as tall as I am, with muscle to match) came up behind the smoker and asked "Excuses me?  What did you just say to my mother?!  I'd like you to repeat that to me!"

If anyone wanted to disappear into his shoe, it was that schmuck!

[jordonj]

They don't dare make it illegal

By the way, the reason they don't make it illegal has more to do with how many politicians are in the pockets of the tobacco companies rather than any economic impact of the country as a whole (big money in tobacco companies).

[Scorpiоn]

I don't smoke, but how is smoking stupid or dangerous in a car?
It only weighs a couple of grams and doesn't require any concentration, though perhaps lighting up could be tricky on a autobann.
I personally have never ever heard of an accident because the driver was smoking.

My step-brother was killed because the driver was smoking.  All the others were paralyzed or severly injured.  I prefer not to elaborate though.

[Hagar]

Unfortunately, this attitude proves to be more the rule than the exception with the smokers I've run into...

There are rude & inconsiderate people in all walks of life. I don't know how many smokers you know but their habit does not make them all objectionable people, any more than being a non-smoker makes anyone into a decent & polite person. When I was young the majority of people smoked & cigarettes were issued to all servicemen by the government, either free or at subsidised prices. Don't worry, I'm used to being treated as a social leper for something perfectly legal that I've been doing for most of my life. It's this type of thinking that will make me continue to smoke all the time it's legal to do so. If any other section of the community was discriminated against in the same way there would be a public outcry.

[Ivan]

Though I'm a (light) smoker myself, I'm absolutely favour of this law. Smoking in cars is simply stupid and dangerous.

recently someone flipped a van (with about 10 people in it)  beacause he tried to get the ashes from one of the passengers fag from his clothes

[Hagar]

[quote]recently someone flipped a van (with about 10 people in it)

[jordonj]

Actually, the #1 distraction:  Coffee!

And yes, some people do read book, shave, etc. while driving (stupid!) :-/

[ATI_7500]

Actually, the #1 distraction:  Coffee!

What about women?

[Hagar]

What about women?

Without elaborating I've seen that particular distraction too, at about 80 mph on the motorway. I don't think the driver or female passenger was smoking at the time. Not cigarettes anyway.

[jordonj]

Well, I got the Coffee bit from the AAA statistics (I think MDOT says the same as well)...

One guy, as a condition of getting his license back, could not have anything within his reach (phone, coffee, drinks, etc.)

I haven't heard about the distraction Hagar mentions causing accidents, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it has (can you imagine the embarassment?)