Louisiana Law Prohibits One From Smoking or Vaping in Own Vehicle

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana) - I recently saw someone smoking in their vehicle while on the roads in Lafayette, and it had me thinking about a law I heard about years ago, which is that you can't smoke in your vehicle.

In 2025, you don't see as many people smoking in their vehicles as you did years ago. Either the dangers of smoking have resonated with those who light up a cigarette, or smokers have found alternatives to their habit, like vaping.

Still, when I saw the driver smoking with the windows up on their vehicle, and with a child in the backseat, it seemed odd because you don't see it often anymore.

So, there is a law in Louisiana that forbids you from smoking in your own vehicle. After a quick search, I was reminded that you cannot smoke or vape in your car if you have a child under the age of 13 in the vehicle. Even if you have the windows down on the car, you legally cannot smoke in the motor vehicle if someone is present under the age of 13.

This violation is a primary offense, which does allow a law enforcement officer to stop you if he or she sees a kid in the car while you are smoking, but they officer does not have the right to search you or your vehicle after being pulled over for smoking in it, while a child is present.

While the violation may not sshow up on your record, if found guilty, the person smoking can face up to a $150 fine and/or be forced to perform community service.

Dangers of Smoking

Smoking can lead to serious illnesses, like cancer, and is known to cause other serious diseases within the body. In addition to that, smoking can attack and weaken your immune system, and is known to attack your DNA.

Secondhand smoke is known to impact others, too, even if they are not smokers. Smoking can also affect your circulatory system, thus impeding blood flow throughout the body, which is vital to survival.

Smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, and smokers can experience serious dental health issues with prolonged smoking habits.

Lastly, smoking can cause premature aging in one's skin, and smoking has been linked to cataracts in people's eyes, seriously impacting their vision.