Under Maine's anti-smoking law, it is illegal to smoke in cars, if children under 16 years are present in the car. This law has been made to protect young children from adverse effects of secondhand smoke. Under the new law, offenders will be issued warnings until Sept. 1, 2009, but after that violators will have to pay fine of $50. This law was modeled over a Bangor ordinance.

Gov. John Baldacci signed Maine's bill into law in April. He said that this legislation is a blow against secondhand smoke. He added that tobacco use costs too many lives and too much money.

Secondhand smoke is very dangerous for developing lungs of children under 18. It increases the number of asthma attacks and severity of asthma symptoms, and also increases lower respiratory tract infections in children.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency urges smoke-free homes and cars for benefits of children. It says that children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking mothers, run the greatest risk of damaging health effects. The U.S. Surgeon General also warns people about adverse effects of secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke increases chance of cancer and heart disease.

Various U.S. states and Canadian provinces have also made it illegal to smoke in a car while children are present. California, Arkansas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and some Canadian provinces have banned smoking when children are present in car.