SOUTH Australian motorists are set to become the first in Australia to face fines if they smoke in a car when a child is a passenger.
Laws to introduce a $75 on-the-spot penalty were introduced into state Parliament today and were hailed by anti-smoking groups.
No other state has passed such legislation, although Tasmania is considering a similar move.
Under the new laws police will have the power to issue an on-the-spot fine of $75 to a anyone smoking in a private car when a child under 16 is present.
But if the penalty is challenged in court, the fine could jump to up to $200.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister Gail Gago said the Government believed the ban had strong community support.
"Children spend many hours in cars each week and secondhand smoke in a vehicle can be more than 20 times more toxic than in a house," she said.
"Cars are contained spaces with low ceilings and toxic air particles, including carbon monoxide are concentrated at the head height of children."
Anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health Australia (ASH) said there was strong evidence from independent research to show that children could be exposed to dangerous levels of secondhand smoke in cars.
It said smoking in cars also was a safety hazard to all people, posing a fire risk and serving to distract drivers.
"I just shudder when I see a car with a little baby in the back and people smoking," said ASH spokesman Stafford Sanders.
Mr Sanders said ASH believed, if passed, the measures would become largely self-regulating given the strength of community support.
At present many people were smoking without thinking about their actions, he said.
Introducing these laws would just give them cause to think about what they are doing.
Ms Gago said most children had no choice about travelling in cars and could not even move away from secondhand smoke.
"Passive smoking can cause a whole range of serious illnesses, including bronchitis, pneumonia, chest infections, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease," she said.
"About eight per cent of new asthma cases in children are attributable to passive smoking."
