Chatham mayor votes against smoking in car ban

Casting the deciding vote, Chatham Borough Mayor Richard Plambeck downed a measure Tuesday that would have made the town the first in New Jersey to ban smoking in cars with children passengers. The

News 12 Staff

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Mar 27, 2007, 9:56 PM

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Updated 6,633 days ago

Casting the deciding vote, Chatham Borough Mayor Richard Plambeck downed a measure Tuesday that would have made the town the first in New Jersey to ban smoking in cars with children passengers.

The bill rejection came after the town?s council reached a split decision. Plambeck cited legal concerns in voting against the measure.

Councilmember Richard Crater supports protecting children from second-hand smoke, but he sided with the mayor.

?I think this is an issue that belongs at the state level,? Crater said.

Plambeck said he will support a measure that encourages the state to take action on the smoking ban. State lawmakers introduced a similar bill in January that is still in committee.