The July 4th Knucklehead of the Day Marathon Part Eleven

Our 11th winner is California State Senator Deborah Ortiz. She is the sponsor of legislation in California that would ban smoking in cars by mothers who have children present.

SACRAMENTO - Should it be illegal for parents to smoke in the car while their children are in the back seat?

One day after the U.S. Surgeon General released the most damning study yet on secondhand smoke, a state Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow police to stop drivers guilty of puffing in the confines of their car when a child passenger is secured in a safety seat.

If the measure becomes law, violators who smoke a "lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant" would receive a warning on the first offense, and a $100 fine the next time they are pulled over.

Under the bill, a smoker could be found guilty even if the car is parked or on private property. It would not, however, apply if the child were at least 6 years old -- old enough to legally not have to be in a safety seat.

"There's no excuse in today's society for any mother of any age, or any level of education, to do something which I consider akin to child abuse," said Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, chair of the Senate Health Committee, which approved the measure.

AB379, introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, previously passed the Assembly on a 49-30 vote and still needs to be approved by the full Senate and signed by the governor.

My parents both smoked. Look how I have grown up. Enough said?

I hate smoking. I also hate legislators who feel they need to micromanage life for everyone. This is just another bit of silliness from the smoking and nanny state. When will this madness end? Are you going to outlaw it in the home too?

California State Senator Deborah Ortiz is our eleventh Knucklehead of the day.