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Honolulu City Council approves ban on smoking in cars with kids inside

Posted at 10:33 AM, Oct 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-18 13:53:30-04

The Honolulu City Council unanimously passed a bill making it illegal on Oahu to smoke in vehicles while children are inside.

The bill was approved Wednesday and Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he plans to sign it into law.

Those in opposition say the bill intrudes on people’s private lives, while backers say those younger than 18 years old have no choice but to stay in a vehicle if an adult is smoking.

The bill applies to electronic smoking devices as well as tobacco cigarettes.

Smoking with a minor in a vehicle has been outlawed on Hawaii Island since 2010. On Kauai, smoking with anyone younger than 13 years old was outlawed in July 2016. Nine other states or territories throughout the U.S. also have similar restrictions.