A bill has been introduced in the North Dakota Legislature to prohibit people from smoking in a vehicle when a child under 9 years old is in that vehicle.

"Last session, we raised the age from 7 to 8 for when a child had to be in an appropriate restraint seat," said Rep. Pam Anderson (D-Fargo), the bill's main sponsor. "I was thinking, 'We buckle up the kids, then we get in the car and we light up cigarettes.'"

Anderson's bill would levy a $25 fine for people caught smoking with little children in the car.

"That's the same fine as if you didn't put the child in an adequate seat," Anderson said.

Anderson said other state prohibit adults from smoking when minors are in the car as passengers.