Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a combination of smoke from a lit cigarette and smoke exhaled by a smoker (American Academy of Otolaryngology, 2010). ETS leads to serious disease in adults and children; Furthermore, it violates children's personal rights. Side effects worsen when smoking in a confined space, such as in a vehicle. To protect the rights and health of children, Texas should ban smoking in vehicles transporting minors. People believe that banning smoking in vehicles carrying minors is a violation of personal rights, but it is a protection of children's rights. Children often have no say against adults smoking in the car. Children, being considered disrespectful, can be punished if they speak out against adults. Smokers continue to oppose smoking bans, but current laws protect the public's rights. Recently, smoking was banned in Houston public housing in hopes of reducing the effects of direct and second-hand smoke (George, 2014). "Those who oppose the regulation of smoking altogether may argue that such laws: (1) discriminate against smokers as a group, in violation of the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, and (2) violate their fundamental right to privacy under the due process clause" (Weismann, 2010). Consistently, courts have held that smoking is not a constitutional right. Government regulations on vehicles, generally considered private, are nothing unusual or new. Seat belts, child restraints, alcohol consumption, and open bottles of alcohol are examples of laws that regulate private vehicles for public safety. Ban on smoking in vehicles would be one of these regulations. A report from the Surge... halfway through the document... 20). no-smoke.org. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=616Thirdhand Smoke. (February 20, 2014). no-smoke.org. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=671United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Prevention health promotion (WE). (2010). How Tobacco Smoking Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Diseases: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General. Weisman, S. (2010). Children, cars and cigarettes: Policy options for smoke-free vehicles. Public Health Law, 1. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/sites/default/files/resources/phlc-policybrief-kidscarssmoke-2010_0.pdf