Smoking ban in private vehicles

Since the 1^er July 2015 in France, it is prohibited for all occupants of a vehicle to smoke in the presence of a minor^[1]This is the first smoking ban law in a private space.

This is a public health measure formulated as part of Marisol Touraine's health bill. The bill drafted by the Ministry of Health states that "the concentration of fine particles on the back seats of vehicles is ten times higher in a smoker's car than in a non-smoker's car. This concentration is more than three times higher than the average threshold accepted by the WHO". The text initially targeted minors under the age of twelve; the UDI group proposed in extremis an amendment proposing the extension of the age of passengers to 18 years. Against the advice of the government and the socialist rapporteur Olivier Véran, the amendment was voted on by parliament.

Penalties are provided for offenders: they risk a fine of 68 euros which can go up to 450 euros (3-day fine).^th class). This law only applies to private means of transport. Smoking is already prohibited on all means of collective transport, whether they are managed by an administration or a public or private company.^[2].

However, this law does not protect minors from third-hand smoking (link to article on third-hand smoking): the toxic fumes from tobacco continue long after the last cigarette has been extinguished (article on the risks of passive smoking in cars). Children are all the more vulnerable to tobacco smoke because their lungs are still developing.

©Generation Without Tobacco