Although a Bangor ordinance that prevents drivers from smoking while carrying kids in their cars appears to have reduced the dangerous practice, other communities are hesitant to follow Bangor’s lead. That is too bad, but not reason for advocates to give up their campaign to make such bans more widespread.

Bar Harbor was the latest Maine community to reject – at least for now – a ban because many town councilors thought such a ban was too invasive. Councilors in Veazie also rejected a ban.

Bangor’s ban, which went into effect last month, makes it unlawful for drivers and passengers to smoke tobacco while anyone under 18 is in the vehicle. A fine of $50 is possible, although Bangor police say education, not punishment is their aim. Similar measures have been adopted in Louisiana and Arkansas and one was passed by the West Virginia Senate this week. Maine’s foster care program already prohibits parents from smoking in their vehicles when children are present.

Bangor Police Chief Don Winslow said no one has been summoned for violating the ordinance and that most people are voluntarily abiding the new law.

After Bangor’s ban, the Ontario Medical Association began pressing lawmakers in that Canadian province to enact a similar ban. Ontario’s premier, Dalton McGuinty, said his Liberal party would not support a ban because it lead to a slippery slope of government regulation of personal behavior.

Premier McGuinty and many Maine officials say educating smokers is better than regulating them. This would be a good strategy if it worked. According to the Ontario Medical Association, the toxic effects of smoking in a car are 23 times greater than second-hand smoke in a house. Yet, a survey last year, carried out with the help of Penquis Community Action asked 44 women whether they exposed their children to second-hand smoke and under what conditions. Riding in a car was the top reason, with 21 women saying they did this, although many emphasized that they had a window open, an ineffective strategy according to recent studies. No matter the actual number, parents and guardians have no good reason to surround a child with unhealthy tobacco fumes and most know it.

The next step is translating that knowledge into action.

Bar Harbor councilors rightly said that a state law would be better than town-by-town regulation. However, state lawmakers often act only after local lawmakers have taken the initiative. There is no magic number, but if several more Maine towns enacted bans like Bangor’s state lawmakers would likely follow suit.

Rather than waiting for someone else to act, local officials should protect the children in their communities by following Bangor’s lead.