Smoking drivers in Okotoks will have to leave their darts unlit in the presence of children if one town councillor has his way.
Following the lead of Nova Scotia and Ontario, Okotoks Coun. Stephen Clark put forth a bylaw that would fine drivers for smoking in vehicles with children present.
“The research shows that smoke concentrations in cars are higher than in bars, higher than in smoking houses, so when you smoke, you’re children are smoking and that has to stop,” said Clark.
Although in favour of the bylaw’s principle, Coun. Beth Kish voted against it the first time and will again when it comes back to council June 9.
“For this thing to have any teeth, it has to be done at the provincial level,” Kish said. “We’re not an island and when people come to visit or drive through, they don’t know our bylaws so it’s a difficult thing to enforce.”
