I Do Miss Mom, but At Least the Car is Smoke-Free

Jacob Sullum | March 9, 2007

An Illinois legislator, Rep. Mike Boland, wants to make smoking in a car that is carrying a child below the age of 9 a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $1,500 and one month in  jail:

The Moline Democrat said he was inspired when he walked past a car filled with a cloud of smoke from the driver's cigarette. "I saw some little heads in their little car seats and thought 'Gee, that's really awful,"' Boland said.

More awful than locking people up and forcibly separating them from their children? Michael Siegel imagines an Illinois where parents are routinely jailed for misdemeanors such as feeding their kids fast food, failing to apply sunscreen, and letting them rollerblade or ski without helmets.