The running capital of America is pushing to make it illegal for adults to smoke in cars with children, The Associated Press reported. If the new bill is passed, adults breaking the law are subject to fines of $250 for a first time offense and $500 for subsequent offenses.

"Secondhand smoke is dangerous, and it's especially dangerous for children, more dangerous still when it's enclosed in a confined space," said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, the bill's primary sponsor and a family doctor in Portland.

Steiner was one of 19 senators to approve the new bill on Wednesday night. Ten senators voted against it.

The next step is approval by the House and a signature by Governor John Kitzhaber, according to The AP. Oregon would be the fifth state to restrict smoking in cars. Arkansas, California, Louisiana, and Maine all have similar legislation.

The results did not correspond with a particular party, according to The AP.

One of the 10 who voted against the new law, Sen, Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, felt the restrictions on civil liberties outweighed the potential health benefits.

"The reason I'm opposing this is not that smoking in cars is a good idea," said Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, who smokes. "The reason I'm opposing this is, how dare government tell me what I'm going to do in my own car."

Republican Senator Fred Girod agreed with Kruse's sentiments on civil liberties, but didn't feel this bill really violated them. He voted yes because he thought the new law would protect children from decisions they didn't make and can't control.

Smoking with children in the car will be only a secondary offense under the new law, meaning the offender would have to be pulled over for a different reason before they could be ticketed for smoking, according to The AP.