NJ Senator Wants to Fine People Smoking in a Car with Kids [AUDIO]

If adults aren't going to do the right thing when they're riding in a car with a kid they should be fined.

That's the opinion of one state lawmaker who wants to impose a fine on anyone caught smoking with a child present in their vehicle.

"The bill would incur a fine for smoking in car with a child under the age of 16," says Sen. Jim Beach. "It would be a $100 fine for smoking in a car with a child. There are no motor vehicle penalties or insurance premium increases."

The bill expands upon the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act" and it establishes a "Smoking Cessation Fund" within the Dept. of Health and Senior Services.

"All of the money from the fines goes to the Smoking Cessation Fund to assist people to get off of smoking or not to smoke at all," explains Beach. "The message is; it is totally inappropriate for an adult in such a confined area to put a juvenile at risk with secondhand smoke."

If the measure becomes law, Beach hopes State and local law enforcement to make it a priority to enforce it.

In case there's any confusion as to what "smoking" means, it is defined in the bill as the burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from or the possession of, a lighted cigar, cigarette or pipe or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked.