Ohio Senate considers limiting smoking in cars

A bill in the Ohio Senate would ban smoking in cars if children under 6 are on board.

The measure's sponsor said the idea is to safeguard youngsters from secondhand smoke. Democratic Sen. Charleta Tavares of Columbus testified Wednesday at a hearing on her bill and said smoke inside cars is especially dangerous because the space makes the smoke much more concentrated.

Multiple news outlets report that Senate Highways and Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Patton questioned how law enforcers would be able to spot that a child is younger than 6, in order to enforce the law. Another Republican, Sen. Frank LaRose, warned that critics are likely to say the proposal infringes on personal freedom.

Tavares says several other states have similar car smoking bans.