West Virginia is making efforts to join the 11 states that have already banned smoking in cars with children. Currently, West Virginia tops the list for the highest number of adult smokers in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an attempt to protect children from secondhand smoke, the state Senate recently passed a bill that imposes fines on individuals caught smoking in a vehicle with someone aged 16 or under.
The bill, passed with a 25-8 vote, will now move to the House of Delegates. However, similar legislation has previously failed in the House, leaving the future of the bill uncertain. Senator Tom Takubo, who is also a doctor, has been a strong advocate for banning smoking in vehicles carrying children since 2017. His motivation stems from a promise he made to a patient whose father was a heavy smoker.
