Bill > A00337

This bill adds a new section to the New York vehicle and traffic law that prohibits smoking tobacco in motor vehicles when a passenger under 18 years old is present. The law defines smoking as the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other tobacco-containing substance, and establishes that any operator or passenger 21 years or older who violates this prohibition can be charged with a traffic infraction. The bill includes a rebuttable presumption that a person holding a lighted tobacco product near their mouth is smoking, which means they can provide evidence to prove they were not actually smoking. This legislation aims to protect minors from secondhand smoke exposure while in vehicles, recognizing the health risks associated with tobacco smoke. The new law will go into effect 120 days after it becomes law, giving time for public awareness and preparation for enforcement.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A337