Is It Against the Law to Drive and Smoke in Idaho?

Life is stressful. There is a lot as an adult to handle each day. Work, bills, parenting, driving, dealing with other people in this world, politics, being a sports fan, and more. With so much stress and anxiety, everyone needs to find a way to deal with it. Some turn towards yoga or reading, others have a place they like to relax that helps them calm down, and others decide the best way to handle it is through alcohol, drugs, or smoking. Each person chooses what they think is best. After a long day of work or whenever behind the wheel, some decide it is a good time to smoke. Is smoking while driving in Idaho against the law, and if it isn't, should it be?

Is Smoking and Driving Illegal in Idaho?

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Texting and driving is illegal in Idaho. Drinking and driving is illegal in the Gem State. One impairs your judgement and vision, and the other distracts you from the road, so is smoking illegal, when it can do both? No smoking will not impair your judgement, but the smoke in the car, depending on what you smoke and how much, could make it tough to see. Trying to light a cigarette takes your attention off the road and could lead to a wreck. Focusing on smoking instead of driving could also be an issue for drivers. It falls in a similar category as things that are illegal to do when operating a vehicle, so is it illegal in Idaho? The simple answer is no, you can smoke while driving, but there is a way to get a ticket while doing so in the Gem State.

How to Get Pulled Over While Smoking and Driving in Idaho

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There are a couple of ways you could get a ticket while smoking and driving. Smoking a standard cigarette or vape pen will not get you a ticket. Smoking an illegal substance would. Most know that marijuana is illegal in Idaho; therefore, smoking it while behind the wheel will get you pulled over. There is also a law that says you cannot smoke in a vehicle with someone under the age of 18 inside with you. There are many adults who smoke and drive with their children in the car, and perhaps you may want to be more careful, as you are breaking the law. If cited, it could cost you $75. While not bank-breaking, it is still money you could use elsewhere. For more on the law, make sure to click the link above.

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It is always best to have both hands on the wheel and your full attention on the road. Yes, we all answer the phone, look at the GPS, take a drink, or eat some food while driving. Smoking and driving are not known to cause many wrecks, but should it become illegal in Idaho to take away the temptation and make the roads a little safer?

Idaho Ranks One of the Highest For Cost of Smoking Over A Lifetime

WalletHub Methodology "In order to assess the impact of tobacco use on a smoker’s finances both over a lifetime and in a single year, WalletHub calculated the potential monetary losses — including the cumulative cost of a cigarette pack per day over several decades, health-care expenditures, income losses, and other costs — brought on by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke."

Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews