BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Discussion got a bit heated at the Monroe County Courthouse Thursday night as residents spoke out against a health board recommendation to ban smoking in cars when children are present.

There wasn't a large crowd, but people in opposition of the proposed ban said the government should butt out of the issue and let them light up, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

Others at the health board meeting said they adamantly agree with it.

"It's like playing Russian Roulette. Point the gun at yourself, but don't point it at anybody else, especially a child," one woman said.

Others felt just as strongly that government has no business in dealing with the issue.

"The policemen have better things to do. Are you going to give them a raise for smelling the inside of a car?" said one woman. "Maybe they need to go to houses and smell the inside of houses. I think that this is not a health issue. It's a civil liberties issue."

The proposed ban would carry a fine for people caught smoking in a vehicle that is carrying a child age 13 or younger. Police could not stop a car just to enforce the ordinance.

Health professionals contend that they're trying to protect children who can't protect themselves from cigarette smoke.

"The toxic levels of secondhand smoke in enclosed areas is much higher than even in smoky bars," said Dr. Carol Touloukian, a pediatrician. "This is very concentrated.

"I am 35 years old and I'm a legal adult. I have not lived with my parents a long time. I don't need three county commissioners or the Monroe County Board of Health trying to be my mommy," one man said.

Commissioners are set to vote on the car smoking ban on Friday.