Can you smoke in your car in Washington? The main rule says no, if a child under 18 is inside the car with you. Washington state smoking restrictions stop people from smoking lighted tobacco products when young people are present in the vehicle. This is a key part of smoking laws Washington state. It means a smoking ban in cars Washington applies in certain cases. But if no children are in the car, you can usually smoke tobacco. Vaping in cars Washington and smoking marijuana in car Washington have different rules you need to know. These rules are all part of Washington car smoking rules.
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Discovering the Main Rule: No Smoking Near Kids
Washington State has a special law. It says you cannot smoke in a car when someone under 18 is inside. This law is very important. It was put in place to protect young people. This rule comes from Washington State Initiative 901. People voted for this idea. It became state law. This is the main smoking ban in cars Washington people talk about. It makes it illegal to smoke lighted tobacco products in a car if any person under 18 is there. This is the key rule about smoking with minors in car Washington.
Why the Rule Is Important
This rule is about health. Smoking makes bad air. The air inside a car is a small space. Smoke fills this space quickly. Breathing this smoke is called secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is very bad for anyone. It is extra bad for children. Kids are still growing. Their lungs are still getting strong. Breathing smoke hurts their lungs. It can cause sickness. It can make it hard to breathe. The law stops this. It helps give children clean air in the car. This is a big reason for the Washington state smoking restrictions in cars. It protects the youngest people.
Who Must Follow the Rule
The rule applies to everyone in the car. If you are the driver, you must not smoke. If you are a passenger, you must not smoke. If there is a child under 18 in the car, no one can smoke lighted tobacco. It does not matter where the child sits. It does not matter if the child is yours. If a person under 18 is in the car, the rule against smoking applies to everyone smoking in that car. This is part of smoking in vehicles WA rules.
What ‘Smoking’ Means in This Law
This specific law about kids in cars talks about “lighted tobacco products.” This means things you light with fire. It means cigarettes. It means cigars. It means pipes filled with tobacco. If it is tobacco and you light it, this law covers it. It creates smoke from burning tobacco. This is the type of smoking stopped by the law when kids are present.
What a Vehicle Is
A vehicle is anything people use to move on roads. It is a car. It is a truck. It is a van. It could be an RV or a bus. Any motorized vehicle used on roads is covered. The rule applies inside this vehicle. So, the smoking ban applies inside cars, trucks, vans, and similar vehicles when a child is inside. This covers smoking in vehicles WA when young people are passengers.
What Happens If You Break the Rule
If you smoke lighted tobacco in a car with a child under 18, you can get a ticket. This is a civil penalty. It is not a crime. But you must pay money. The fine for smoking in car WA when a child is present is set by law. The amount is $103. A police officer can stop you if they see you smoking with a child in the car. They can give you this ticket. This is how the smoking ban in cars Washington is put into action. The $103 fine is meant to stop people from doing this.
Smoking Without Children Present
What if no person under 18 is in the car? What if it is just adults? Or if you are alone? Washington state law does not have a general ban on smoking lighted tobacco in your own car just because you are driving or sitting in it. The main state rule is only about having children in the car. So, if it is only adults, you can usually smoke lighted tobacco in your car. This is different from when kids are present. These are the general smoking laws Washington state.
Other Places or Rules
Even if no children are in the car, other rules might stop you from smoking.
- Private Businesses: Some businesses do not allow smoking anywhere on their property. This might include their parking lots. If you are in your car in a business parking lot, they might ask you not to smoke. Look for signs.
- Rental Cars: Most car rental companies do not let people smoke in their cars. They have rules in your rental agreement. If you smoke in a rental car, they can charge you a big cleaning fee. This fee is often much more than the state smoking fine.
- Local City Rules: A few cities might have their own extra rules about smoking in public places. However, the state law about kids in cars is the main rule for vehicles across Washington. Always be aware of where you are.
So, while state law lets you smoke tobacco in your car with only adults, other rules might stop you in specific places or situations. Always check if you are on private property with its own rules.
Looking at Vaping in Cars
Vaping is different from smoking tobacco. Vaping uses a device to heat a liquid. This makes a vapor or aerosol. It is not burning tobacco. The Washington state law that bans smoking with kids under 18 talks about “lighted tobacco products.” This law does not clearly say that vaping is included.
So, under that specific state law, vaping with a child under 18 in the car might not get you the $103 ticket for smoking tobacco. However, this does not mean vaping is harmless. The vapor still has chemicals. Kids breathe these chemicals in. Many health experts say vaping is bad for kids. People sitting in the car will breathe in the vapor.
The rules for vaping in cars Washington are less clear than for smoking tobacco with kids. The state law about the minor ban does not cover it directly. But some people think it should be treated the same. It is still smart not to vape around children in a small space like a car. Also, laws can change. Local areas might have different rules about vaping. For now, the state law with the $103 fine for kids in cars applies to lighted tobacco, not clearly to vaping vapor.
Smoking Marijuana in Your Car
Smoking marijuana in a car is against the law in Washington State. This is true even though adults can legally use marijuana. The law has rules about where you can use marijuana.
- Public Place: You cannot smoke marijuana in a public place. A car driving on the road is seen as a public place. It is not a private home. Smoking marijuana in your car means you are using it in public. This is against the rules for legal marijuana use.
- Open Container: There is also a law about open containers in cars. This law is like the rule for open bottles of alcohol. You cannot have an open container of marijuana in the car’s main area. An open container must be in the trunk or somewhere not easy to reach. Smoking marijuana makes it an open container. The marijuana is lit and being used. So, smoking it in the car breaks the open container rule too.
Because of these reasons, smoking marijuana in car Washington is illegal. You can get a ticket or face other problems with the law. It is also very dangerous to drive after using marijuana. This is like driving after drinking alcohol. It is called impaired driving. The laws against smoking marijuana in the car and against impaired driving are serious. These are important Washington car smoking rules related to cannabis.
Putting Washington Car Smoking Rules Together
Let’s make the rules simple and clear. Here is a look at the main Washington car smoking rules:
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Rule 1: Smoking Lighted Tobacco with Kids: You cannot smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes (lighted tobacco) in a car if anyone under 18 is inside. This is the main state law from Initiative 901. It is a smoking ban in cars Washington for this situation. This is a key part of smoking laws Washington state and Washington state smoking restrictions.
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Rule 2: Smoking Lighted Tobacco Without Kids: If only adults are in the car, the state law does not ban you from smoking lighted tobacco in your own car. But watch for other rules, like at businesses or in rental cars.
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Rule 3: Vaping with Kids: The state law banning smoking with kids under 18 talks about “lighted tobacco.” It does not clearly include vaping. So, the $103 fine for that law might not apply to vaping. But vaping around kids is not good for their health. Be careful and think about their well-being. This is about vaping in cars Washington.
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Rule 4: Smoking Marijuana: You cannot smoke marijuana in your car. This is illegal. It counts as using marijuana in a public place and having an open container. This is a strong rule for smoking marijuana in car Washington.
Here is a simple table to help remember:
| What You Are Smoking | Who Is In The Car | Is It Allowed By State Law? | Key Rule/Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighted Tobacco | Child Under 18 Present | No | Illegal under RCW 70.160.070 (Initiative 901). Protects kids. Fine is $103. |
| Lighted Tobacco | Only Adults Present | Yes (Generally) | No state law bans this unless other rules apply (like rental car rules). |
| Vapor Product (Vape) | Child Under 18 Present | State law is unclear* | Law is for “lighted tobacco,” not clearly vapor. Still not healthy for kids. |
| Vapor Product (Vape) | Only Adults Present | Yes (Generally) | No state law bans this. |
| Marijuana | Any Person (Adults/Kids) | No | Illegal (Public place, open container law). Can lead to serious penalties. |
*The state law banning smoking with minors specifies “lighted tobacco product.” Vaping vapor is not this. But health concerns are real, and local rules could differ.
How Rules Are Enforced and Fines
Police officers in Washington state help make sure these rules are followed.
For the ban on smoking lighted tobacco with a child in the car:
An officer can stop a car if they see someone smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe when a child appears to be inside. The officer can then check if the person is under 18. If there is someone under 18, the officer can give a ticket. The fine is $103. This is the standard fine for smoking in car WA in this situation.
For smoking marijuana in the car:
An officer can stop a car if they see someone smoking marijuana inside. They can also find marijuana during a traffic stop for another reason. Smoking marijuana in the car breaks different laws. This can lead to a ticket or possibly more serious charges, especially if the officer thinks the driver is impaired. The penalties for smoking marijuana in a car can be more serious than the $103 fine for tobacco with kids. It depends on the exact situation and laws broken (like open container or DUI).
Following these Washington car smoking rules helps you avoid fines and legal trouble. It also helps keep everyone safe.
Why These Rules Help People
These rules are not just about making people pay money. They are about making Washington a healthier and safer place.
- Protecting Children’s Health: The rule against smoking lighted tobacco with kids in the car is mostly about health. It keeps harmful smoke out of the small space inside a car. This protects children’s lungs and health right from the start. It supports clean indoor air efforts, even in vehicles.
- Promoting Road Safety: The rule against smoking marijuana in the car is about safety on the road. Driving while high is dangerous. It slows down reaction time. It makes crashes more likely. Banning smoking marijuana in the car helps prevent impaired driving. It makes roads safer for everyone.
- Clearer Expectations: These rules, part of Washington state smoking restrictions, make it clearer what you can and cannot do. This helps people follow the law easily. It reduces confusion about smoking laws Washington state.
These rules help protect the health of children and improve safety on the roads. They are important public health and safety measures.
What to Remember
It is good to know the rules before you get into your car in Washington. Here are the main things to remember about smoking in vehicles WA:
- The strongest rule is about smoking lighted tobacco with kids. Never smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes in your car if someone under 18 is inside. Remember the fine for smoking in car WA is $103 if you break this rule. This law came from Washington State Initiative 901. It is a clear smoking ban in cars Washington when minors are present. This rule is part of the core smoking with minors in car Washington laws.
- You can usually smoke lighted tobacco in your car if only adults are present. But always check for other rules, like at businesses or in rental cars.
- Vaping near kids in the car is not clearly banned by the state law for tobacco, but it is still not healthy. Think about the air quality for everyone. Understand the difference for vaping in cars Washington.
- You cannot smoke marijuana in your car at all. This is against the law. It is considered public use and an open container. This is a big part of smoking marijuana in car Washington laws.
Knowing and following these Washington car smoking rules keeps you legal and helps protect the health and safety of others. These are important Washington state smoking restrictions to follow.
Common Questions
Does the ban cover smoking any kind of cigarette?
Yes, the state law banning smoking with kids in the car covers lighted tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, whether they are regular or flavored. If it is tobacco and you light it, and a child under 18 is there, you cannot smoke it in the car.
Is the fine the same for driver and passenger?
Yes, the $103 fine for smoking lighted tobacco with a child under 18 in the car applies to any person smoking. So, if a passenger is smoking, they can get the fine. If the driver is smoking, they can get the fine.
Can I smoke in my car on private property?
If no children under 18 are present, you can usually smoke tobacco in your car on private property. However, the owner of the property can make their own rules. A business owner can ban smoking in their parking lot. If a child is present, the state law banning smoking with minors still applies even on private roads or lots that are open to the public.
What about driving through Washington? Do the rules still apply?
Yes, Washington state laws apply to everyone driving within the state borders. If you are just driving through Washington and have a child under 18 in your car, you must follow Washington’s law about not smoking lighted tobacco. The state’s rules on smoking marijuana in the car also apply to all drivers in Washington.
Does vaping count as smoking under the kids ban?
No, the state law that bans smoking with a child under 18 specifically uses the words “lighted tobacco product.” Vaping heats a liquid and makes vapor, not smoke from burning tobacco. So, under that specific state law, vaping does not clearly cause the $103 fine. But, vaping can still be unhealthy, especially for children, and some local areas might have different rules.
Why did Initiative 901 focus on this?
Initiative 901 was a larger effort to protect people from secondhand smoke. It put rules on smoking in public places. The part about cars was added to protect children in a small, enclosed space where smoke can be very strong. It aimed to give kids cleaner air.
In Closing
Washington state has clear rules about smoking in cars. The most important rule stops smoking lighted tobacco when children under 18 are in the car. This protects their health. This law came from Washington State Initiative 901. If you break this rule, the fine for smoking in car WA is $103. Smoking marijuana in the car is never allowed because it is public use and an open container. Vaping in cars Washington around kids is not banned by the same specific law, but it is still something to avoid for health reasons. Knowing and following these Washington car smoking rules is important for being legal, safe, and healthy. These are the main Washington state smoking restrictions you need to know for vehicles.