Lilly Highlights New Law That Protects Children from Secondhand Smoke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – A new law backed by state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, will help protect children from secondhand smoke by prohibiting vehicle occupants from smoking while minors are present.

“Tobacco use has severe costs to our health and wellbeing, and we need to protect young people from the devastating effects of secondhand smoke,” Lilly said. “This law banning people from smoking in cars while children are present is one step that will help protect the health of young people.”

Lilly backed House Bill 2276, which bars drivers or passengers from smoking in a vehicle when a minor is present. Illinois joins eight other states in prohibiting smoking in vehicles when a minor present. This measure builds on Lilly’s longtime efforts to combat smoking, including spearheading Tobacco 21 in Illinois, which banned smoking by teenagers by raising the smoking age to 21 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke for children and recommends keeping vehicles smoke-free to prevent health risks including ear infections, asthma attacks and respiratory infections.

“Reducing secondhand smoke not only helps make Illinoisans healthier, but it saves billions in future health care costs that would otherwise be spent taking care of the harmful outcomes of secondhand smoke,” Lilly said. “Building a stronger Illinois means reducing health care costs for Illinois families and this measure will not only do that, but it will also make Illinois families healthier.”