Novelty lighter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A lighter shaped like a beer can, producing green flame

A novelty lighter is a lighter that is shaped like another object. Novelty Lighters can have audio or visual effects, and may look like toys. They are typically used to light tobacco products.

Controversy surrounding novelty lighters

Novelty lighters have been connected to many fires across the United States. Due to their toy-like appearance, children have mistaken them for toys and have caused property damage, injury or death. On September 25, 2007, two toddlers from Russellville, Arkansas, died after setting fire to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter.[1]

Bans on novelty lighters

On May 11, 2006, the European Consumer Protection Commission adopted a decision requiring Member States to ensure that, from March 11, 2007, cigarette lighters are child-resistant when placed on the EU market. The decision also prohibits placing lighters on the market that resemble objects that are particularly attractive to children.[2]

In the United States, Maine was the first state to ban the sale of novelty lighters. This ban came about after the son of a Maine fire chief burned his eye on a novelty lighter shaped like a baseball bat.[3] Since then, Tennessee, Oregon, and Arkansas have also banned novelty lighters. The Virginia Legislature recently passed legislation to ban novelty lighters, and is waiting for Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to sign the bill.[4]

Many cities and counties in the United States have passed ordinances banning novelty lighters. They include:

California: Cathedral City, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Highland, La Mesa, National City, Redlands, San Diego City, Solana Beach, Vista

Georgia: Dawson County, Dawsonville

Kentucky: Shively

Maryland: City of Laurel

Mississippi: Meridian

Ohio: Huber Heights, Dayton

Washington: City of Yakima, Sunnyside, Yakima County

Wyoming: Burns[5]

Hawaii

New York

U.S. Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the “Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act” in 2008, which would ban these lighters nationally.

Novelty lighters were banned from sale and manufacture in South Australia on 6 January 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "Arson Awareness Week Media Kit" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-07. 
  2. ↑ "EUROPA - Press Releases - EU bans sale of non-child resistant and novelty cigarette lighters". Europa.eu. Retrieved 2010-10-07. 
  3. ↑ "Maine first state to ban novelty lighters - Health - Kids and parenting - msnbc.com". MSNBC. 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2010-10-07. 
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Oregon State Police - Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Novelty (Toylike) Lighters". Oregon.gov. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2010-10-07. 
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.