Personal Injury Law

Washington Bill Seeks A Ban On Novelty Lighters

By Kirk Bernard, Esq.

The seattletimes.com website reported in a story on January 20, 2009 that State Senator Claudia Kauffman was sponsoring the senate version of bill SB 5011 that would ban Novelty lighters to prevent personal injury in Seattle.

Kauffman said, ?It?s really to stave off any potential dangers that are out there for youth in such a confusing manner.?

One lighter that particularly struck Kauffman as dangerous was one shaped like a miniature camera. Kauffman said, ?you put it up to your eye, and the flame comes out the top, and these lighters are displayed at the front counter of any convenience store.?

Joe Meinecke, public educator with the Tacoma Fire Department can attest personally to the dangers of these novelty lighters. As a matter of fact, he owns one shaped like a miniature gun and refers to it as his $50,000 lighter. The reason for this name is because that is the total sum of damage it caused to a Tacoma family?s home when a four year old played with it and set a couch on fire. Meinecke now uses it as a prop in his fire safety lessons with children and families.

Full post as published by Seattle Injury Blog on March 12, 2009 (boomark / email).