AIBU to demand this couple stop smoking and report them

[Rowanhart]

So I was in the garage today when a car pulled in with a mum and dad in the front, two toddlers and a baby in the back.

Windows closed (not that I think that makes a difference) and both were smoking.

As man got out of car (still smoking) I said to him that he had to put the cigarette out as he was risking all our lives and that he shouldn't be smoking in a confined space with his kids anyway!

He just put the fag back in the car in the ashtray, while his Mrs lit up another cigarette laughing!

So reported them to garage who went out and told them to put them out. They were kicking off t high heaven as I walked out.

Anyway when told DH he said while he agreed In principle he felt I was being unreasonable by "getting involved" as could have got nasty and I'm seven months pregnant.

Should I have just kept my mouth shut?

A very very long time ago before I met my DH he worked at a garage forecourt. He spotted a man smoking whilst filling up and over the tannoy did the "will the man at pump 4 please extinguish his cigarette' thing. too which the man stuck two fingers up. My DH (as the story goes) casually left the shop walked over to the chap at pump 4, picked up the grubby bucket of windscreen washing water and chucked it over him thus extinguishing the cigarette and the man at number 4's attitude!

That scene in zoolander is fab! And it's Eric from Trueblood too lol

Rowanhart! You interact with others? Are you sure you're human ;)

I look around as I fill up, more interesting than watching my money pour into the car

Jumping I'd just finished filling up so told one of cashiers. He was still filling up.

How weird - Birds is arguing that she lives in a crime-ridden inner city so has to make a mental note of all the other people at the garage. You're arguing that you live in a lovely friendly northern place so you do the same.

I look at the money on the counter adding up but that's my main concern given the price of petrol - not the number and ages of passengers in other cars and what they're doing.

Gosh dowagers. Are you having a bad night or something? I was, of course, using an established analogy about the difference between Northern and Southern behaviours in an attempt to draw a wry smile from you.

I clearly now see that utilisation of overused comedy stereotypes does not amuse you, Let's not have a bun fight over, I don't know, absolutely nothing as far as I can see.

I just happened to look around. Trainee I too always look about when I'm filling up. Don't watch the money as when it clicks I know it's full!

Elegangle I loved that! It's the kind of thing I'd love to have the bottle to do. But instead just told the lady behind the desk. Ha.

Garage as in petrol station? Right to report, could have caused an explosion.

Same here Rowan. And to be fair I'd rather not know how much its going to cost, its depressing watching the numbers roll on.

The whole reason of having a no smoking rule at a garage (presumably a petrol station in this case) is that drips of petrol on the ground could catch light from a cigarette's ash. This is one of the few Health and Safety rules with which I wholeheartedly agree.

It's not drips on the ground, it's the fumes. Petrol fumes ignite with the smallest of sparks (you're not supposed to use electrical equipment like mobiles either). Add to this that just under your feet are several thousand further gallons.

was caused purely be static electricity from the woman's jumper

oh I looooooovew that scenario elenagle ..... much kudos to your DH.

Anyone who lights up in a filling station endagers not only themselves but everyone else and seserves everything they get

I wish I had done similar to the ignoramus trying to jump start his car right next to the pumps a few years ago !!!!!!!!

I must admit you were right but brave to speak to the man directly about just smoking ( not re the car) as he could have got nasty ....... very very right to involve the garage staff. If he got nasty and threatening I hope they called the police

I soooooo want to see Zoolander again now!!! hilarious!

Good on you for saying something, the baby certainly cant say anything about the crap he/she is being forced to breathe! Not to mention the fact he´s putting not only his family but others in danger, the no smoking signs at forecourts are there for a reason!

That video is terrifying.

Thanks Sammy. DH gone to pick up curry but will show him on return.

Queue self righteous "see what could have happened..l"

But Quick will follow your advice I'm future. Don't get involved face-to-face.

shows what can happen if you use your mobile on a forecourt. It's more shocking.

gasoline fight

YANBU - kids in the car and they were also at a garage - thought you couldn't smoke at a garage?

I smoke - never in a car - never near my kid. Shut windows in a car and your comment prompted the lady to light up in the car? Bloody hell.

So she felt it more important to smoke out her kids than to just put out her fag with your comment. Gosh.

But the garage owner was NBU because with a person like that you are at risk.

i dont quite believe the mobile phone thing, im 99.99999% sure its a myth.

Petrol stations have a tannoy for situations like that so they do not need to approach the customer. They can also refuse to turn the fuel pumps on if anyone in and around the car are smoking/refuse to put it out. Depending on the franchise the staff can also become quite arsey with customers who take on a 'who me?'/'don't know what you're talking about'/'you can't mean me?' attitude to smoking on a forecourt.

It is completely unacceptable to smoke on a forecourt but some people are ignorant bastards a bit thick

We had this, once. DH asked the guy to put out his fag (bloke was actively pumping fuel, we'd pulled up next to him). He refused, and got lippy. I stomped round, snatched it out of his gob and ground it out on the floor. Then I invited him to smack me one, if he was such a hard piece of shit that wouldn't mind hitting a woman. He mumbled and slunk off to pay. I laughed for about three hours.

No, you're right, I'm not in the mood for wry smiles.

Sorry - having an issue with bloody awful neighbours who are horribly neglectful and verging on abusive to their children and they are doing my head in. And no authorities seem to care so this seems a bit like small beer to me right now. I'm at my wit's end and don't know what to do :(

But, smoking on a forecourt=bloody stupid;smoking with kids in the car= bloody selfish. Better? ;)

Dowagers, that's awful. Who have you reported to?

It's illegal to smoke in the car with kids here (Canada). I think it is just legislating for bloody stupid people.

Ah Dowagers that's terrible. Have you tried NSPCC?

I am surprised the staff in the petrol station hadn't clocked it! I once went to pay for fuel, leaving my mum in the car. The assistant rather abruptly told me that smoking is illegal on the forecourt even in cars. Cue me looking confused as to why she felt the need to share that info with me I particular as I have never smoked. She went on to describe my car and insist that my passenger (my mum) was sitting in the car smoking. Seeing as I drove a car where smoking was banned this was not likely, even more so the fact that my mum had quit smoking some 15 years earlier. I assured her that this wasn't the case but she was insistent she had seen my mum put her hand up to her mouth!
I think yanbu op.

You're very nice Rowan, considering I've been a bugger on this thread. Thank you :)
I've started a thread about the rubbish neighbours so let the flame war begin!

And no, I haven't tried NSPCC but maybe I should?

absolutely aare of everyone around at all times... living in several innercities does that for you...