someone's second hand smoke.and my baby

[downsm75]

Go knock on your neighbours' doors and when you find the offender explain the situation and ask him/her very politely to try and keep the smoke away from your house. A reasonable person would not mind. 

Is the op SERIOUSLY to ask someone to NOT smoke in their OWN HOME? Ridiculous.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

If the houses are so close enough that you can smell cigarette smoke, I'm thinking you're getting other substances in your home, too. Car exhaust, smog, pollen, BBQ smoke, etc. I think I'd reconsider having any window open if you're that concerned or sensitive to odors, especially with a 9 week old baby in the house. An air conditioner or a fan unit that blows hot air out of your house might be preferable. An attic or ceiling fan would be of help, too.

The other option would be to move to enough acreage to make sure that odors from neighbors wouldn't be an issue. There's still smog and pollen to contend with, however. Rural areas also include smoke from wood burning stoves. Not sure there's anywhere on the planet to be free of irritants.

 

[redhen]

I know the responsibility to take action is mine...that's why I am being proactive and also asking for ideas. The harrassment goes either way depending on how harmful you perceive smoking to be. California is not a smoker friendly place...we have a ton of prohibitive smoking laws and pioneered many. Smoking is hazardous to the smoker and anyone around....I think my yelling out of frustration that someone is smoking within 10 feet of my windows and newborn is a little less hazardous to the health of others than the smoke is.
My property rights defend my safety from toxic substances....so I do have the legal upper hand.

No, you dont. Sorry...

Can you please show me a link that says in your state that its illegal for people smoke on their own private property?

 

[Aschenfire]

I am pretty sure that it is NOT illegal in any state for someone to smoke on their own property. And are the houses really that close that they are "10 feet from your window"?? I'd look into air conditioning, as others have mentioned, as it sounds like your current cooling system is pulling in a lot of stuff from outside that may or may not be damaging to you or your family.

You have no legal right to yell at your neighbors from your yard, to knock on their doors to tell them to "keep their smoke to themselves", or to harass them in any other way. I'm going to guess you are a young mother... I just get that feeling. There is going to be a lot more coming your way while that baby grows up which will be of more consequence than your neighbor having a smoke once in a while.

 

[redhen]

I am pretty sure that it is NOT illegal in any state for someone to smoke on their own property. And are the houses really that close that they are "10 feet from your window"?? I'd look into air conditioning, as others have mentioned, as it sounds like your current cooling system is pulling in a lot of stuff from outside that may or may not be damaging to you or your family. 

You have no legal right to yell at your neighbors from your yard, to knock on their doors to tell them to "keep their smoke to themselves", or to harass them in  any other way. I'm going to guess you are a young mother... I just get that feeling. There is going to be a lot more coming your way while that baby grows up which will be of more consequence than your neighbor having a smoke once in a while. 

Well said....

 

[Carols Clucks]

For those of you outside the state of California, we have a public service TV ad that includes some one smoking out side on a porch/in their living room etc and the smoke wanders up through windows, air ducts etc and in to babies.

It sure works well to get a lot of new parents totally upset.

Personally I don't smoke and notice right away when some one lights up near me, we don't have AC here either cause we are just a mile from the beach and rely on the ocean breeze.

BUT, while the ads work well to scare new parents, I don't think they inform smokers that their right to smoke invades other peoples homes. I manage rental property and I have to really watch if some one applies for an apt that smokes, how that will effect the neighbors. Cause boy will my phone ring from the neighbors!

Just this year the law changed so we can ban smoking inside rental units, we do have to provide an outdoors location. It is common to see ads stating no smoking and one property management company has banned smoking in their units here.

I know some people that will reply smoke and will be outraged that they could be told not to smoke in their apartment, but from my point of view in having to wash walls, clean air ducts and throw out carpets/screens/blinds etc cause the smoking ruined them, I like the new law.

And I do have a spot picked out for my smoking zone! DOWNWIND (usually)

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I think you should try explaining it to whoever is doing this. That definitely isn't healthy for your baby, and I think most people would understand. But I also don't think there is a reasonable solution to the problem except finding another way to cool down your house.

They might just not know that the smoke is reaching your home and that you have a newborn, and would probably feel bad about it once you tell them. But there still isn't a lot more that you can do to get them to stop.

 

[redhen]

Of course,..if you RENT someones property... the landlords should have the say if smoking is okay or not. They own the property..
I know here in Mass landlords can specify on their leases if smoking is allowed or not... thats fair. IMO
But on someones private property? Nah... i cant see it...

 

[redhen]

I DO have to ask you though...
I see that you let YOUR cat run wild in the neighborhood..and it died by being attacked by a neighbors dog in THEIR yard?
Sooooo, you think they should have to deal with your animal with fleas in their yards....yet they cant smoke on their own property?
Hmmmmm...

 

[Sore Thumb Suburbanite]

For those of you outside the state of California, we have a public service TV ad that includes some one smoking out side on a porch/in their living room etc and the smoke wanders up through windows, air ducts etc and in to babies.

It sure works well to get a lot of new parents totally upset.

Personally I don't smoke and notice right away when some one lights up near me, we don't have AC here either cause we are just a mile from the beach and rely on the ocean breeze.

BUT, while the ads work well to scare new parents, I don't think they inform smokers that their right to smoke invades other peoples homes.  I manage rental property and I have to really watch if some one applies for an apt that smokes, how that will effect the neighbors.  Cause boy will my phone ring from the neighbors!  

Just this year the law changed so we can ban smoking inside rental units, we do have to provide an outdoors location.  It is common to see ads stating no smoking and one property management company has banned smoking in their units here.  

I know some people that will reply smoke and will be outraged that they could be told not to smoke in their apartment, but from my point of view in having to wash walls, clean air ducts and throw out carpets/screens/blinds etc cause the smoking ruined them, I like the new law.

And I do have a spot picked out for my smoking zone!  DOWNWIND (usually)

Yes...that commercial does make me more cautious...hence the thread.

And for you doubters.... http://no-smoke.org/document.php?id=230 scroll down to the word "nuisance".

As for moving...we are lucky to own a home at all in California...where my husband works...we would love more acreage but are unable to afford it close enough to where my husbands job-our whole income- is located. I could care less about other contaminants in the air that we have little control over... but an inconsiderate neighbor who chooses the dirty patch of backyard right next to my 6&1/2 foot brick property wall to lite up 10 times a day and at night is a little different. Yeah id love ac but as I said we cant afford a couple thou with the new baby and all that entails.

Second hand smoke is dirty, smelly, unwanted and harmful. Bbq smoke and other airborne contaminants are not the same.

?
whatever I guess I'll just give up and drink it in to stay cool or let my family sweat to death in a closed up house or go into massive debt to finance ac.
It sounds like I would be next to insane to ask my neighbor politely to smoke a little farther away from my baby's window so his room wont fill with second hand smoke. His right to do whatever he wants on his property and my fear of offending anyone should come before my interest in my baby's safety.

Neighbors live in neighborhoods which are small communities within larger cities...there are pros and cons and a sense of compromise and entitlement all at the same time. But people live here and manage to get along. I'm going to talk to my neighbors and see if they'll be really neighborly and smoke farther away. I don't care if the idea greatly agitates anyone on here...