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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you report someone for smoking with their child in the car?

376 replies

JigglyTuff · 02/05/2017 09:13

Just walked past a woman waiting in her car for infant school gates to open. There was a child in the front seat. She was blowing her smoke out the window and I looked round because I could smell it and wondered where it was coming from.

Or should I just mind my own business?

OP posts:
Ceto · 02/05/2017 11:03

I'm normally firmly on the side of the anti-smoker in these threads, I just hate it. But this time round even I would definitely say don't report, because precisely zero would happen as a result. The fact that the government chose to enact a near-unenforceable law is not, frankly, our problem; if they really want to do something about crimes like this they will put a hell of a lot more resources into the police to that they can patrol areas like schools at drop-off time to catch people in the act.

PhyllisNights · 02/05/2017 11:06

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle, you are beyond petty. Stop coming for me.

And just for the record, I would not tell someone to call the police about their sister in law texting them. I'd tell her to block her and have her husband deal with it.

Peanutandphoenix · 02/05/2017 11:24

Op who would you like to report the crime of the century to the smoking police.

Tobolsk · 02/05/2017 11:32

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle

I have noticed this attitude too. Just think if we were back in 1940 how many of these people would have been SS or gestapo informants.

allegretto · 02/05/2017 11:37

I really hate this meddling culture we seem to be in lately.

Hear, hear!

BaggyCheeks · 02/05/2017 12:25

www.gov.uk/government/news/smoking-in-cars-with-children-banned-from-today

No Peanut, hypothetically, just the Police police. Because, you know, it's against the law.

I'm annoyed at myself for getting sucked into this thread. Smoking with kids in the car is so far down on the list of things I actually give a shit about, but comparing people who are bothered about laws being broken to Gestapo informers - really?

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 02/05/2017 12:30

I think some MN'ers would love to have a UK Stasi, some all seeing service to report everyone for everything who will come and sort them out.

Bloody hell. I totally see what user is saying here.

Gowgirl · 02/05/2017 12:33

Still pregnant then Phyllis?

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 02/05/2017 12:35

Gestapo informers

No, Stasi informers. Entirely different thing, same country.

PhyllisNights · 02/05/2017 12:37

Yes, and I will be for 3 more months. I'm sick of people telling me that I'm hysterical and it's my hormones. Such a patronising thing to say.

The smokers rush to these sort of threads and tell us all to stop being ridiculous. They're so protective of their habit.

It's 2017. Not as many people smoke. A proportion or those who do still smoke do not do it in their home or car. If you've decided to bring a child into this world then don't be so damn selfish as to smoke infront of it. It's illegal, and therefore we're perfectly entitled to report it.

blueskyinmarch · 02/05/2017 12:43

Phyllis I genuinely worry that when your baby arrives you will be so uptight about everything that you won’t be able to relax and really enjoy your child. I mean this incredibly kindly.

user1493022461 · 02/05/2017 12:44

The smokers rush to these sort of threads and tell us all to stop being ridiculous. They're so protective of their habit

This is exactly why you're called hysterical. I'm not a smoker, I doubt the others commenting like me are either. Nobody is being protective.
You're not understanding the point at hand: it may be illegal but there isn't anything YOU can do about it. There is no mechanism for your interest in that illegality to translate to action against the criminal.
Do try and understand.

Ginmakesitallok · 02/05/2017 12:46

That's one of the problems with this legislation - there's nobody to enforce it.

choli · 02/05/2017 12:47

OP make sure to find out if the smoker is on benefits before you report her, so you can froth about "those people" spending "your tax money" on cigarettes as well. Give it a double whammy that the police won't give a rats about.

user1493022461 · 02/05/2017 12:48

It was never meant to be enforced, particularly. It's part of the societal finger wagging stance: make things you want to stop but can't really illegal bit by bit, to reinforce the message that it is socially unacceptable.
When the legislation was introduced it was never intended for people to be calling the plod to arrest randomers for breaking this law.

Original poster
JigglyTuff · 02/05/2017 12:56

Well this has been an excellent thread. I do love AIBU Smile

Not only have I been called hysterical, I'm meddling and I'm now someone who hates people on benefits.

Gosh Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
JigglyTuff · 02/05/2017 12:59

They take it very seriously in Australia: www.nobutts.com.au/Report-Smoking-in-Cars-with-Children.html

OP posts:
BillyButtfuck · 02/05/2017 13:01

I think it's really grim and selfish of the mother, but I don't see the police or SS acting on it. I'd definitely go with the school newsletter option, which was a great suggestion. You're not hysterical.

user1493022461 · 02/05/2017 13:04

I wonder what the Australian police think of that advice. It's not endorsed by or linked to any states police sites, so I'd guess they don't think much of it. And from my experience of police there, they are less likely even than the UK to appreciate your call.

kali110 · 02/05/2017 13:11

The smokers rush to these sort of threads and tell us all to stop being ridiculous. They're so protective of their habit.

I'm not a smoker, i hate it and i agree that your posts Are hysterical!
So maybe some people on here just think that you are massively overeacting?
No i wouldn't report, the police can't even deal with all the thefts, break in and gangs in the town by me lately
And people want to bother them with this?

kali110 · 02/05/2017 13:13

user1493022461
I was going to say, what a load of crap! Grin
So i could report any person and say i saw them smoking Grin

victoriousblunder · 02/05/2017 13:17

I'd be interested to find know how many of the people who say they wouldn't report it are actually smokers themselves!

HomityBabbityPie · 02/05/2017 13:18

I wouldn't report it. I don't smoke.

FrenchMartiniTime · 02/05/2017 13:24

It's illegal. You would report someone using their phone in the car so why not this?

It may not be abuse but it's illegal for a reason and should be reported.

A previous poster likened it to taking your baby to the pub...well unless you are forcing a g&t down your child's throat it's not really the same is it.

I'm assuming the people getting defensive are smokers?

user1493022461 · 02/05/2017 13:45

You would report someone using their phone in the car so why not this?

No I wouldn't. Who would do that?

I'm assuming the people getting defensive are smokers?

You assume wrongly. And double wrong, because no-one is being defensive.

Is it so hard to grasp that people do things that are wrong or illegal and nothing happens ? You're like toddlers telling mummy in the hopes the bad boy gets a time out!