Bill to fine young smokers gets good review
CARSON CITY — Senate Judiciary Committee members expressed general support Thursday for a bill that could force smokers under age 18 to pay a minimum of $25 fines and complete tobacco cessation courses.
Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, said it makes no sense for Nevada to have a law that prohibits selling cigarettes to people under age 18 when it is perfectly legal for them to smoke in public.
What happens is “smokers corners” crop up near schools across the state, and police can do nothing to stop minors from smoking, he said. “You see 14-year-old smokers who take big drags on cigarettes in front of a cop and tell him, ‘You can’t do anything about it.’ ”
His Senate Bill 177 would outlaw smoking by children 17 and younger.
It also would permit police to issue citations to underage smokers but not to place them in custody.
For the first offense, the fine would be $25; the second, $50; and the third, $75. For subsequent offenses, the fine would be $75, but the judges could order the child to take and pay for smoking cessation courses. Whether any fines are levied, however, would be at the discretion the juvenile court judge.
Use of any tobacco products, including chewing tobacco, would be included.
For decades, similar legislation to outlaw juvenile smoking has been introduced in the Legislature and never received approval. But there seemed to be a different attitude among the senators Thursday, although no immediate vote was taken on Settelmeyer’s bill.
Judiciary Chairman Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, ordered opponents to the bill to work with Settelmeyer on amendments and bring back a version of the bill that can win approval.
