News

Proposed Bills Crack Down on Personal Product Use

by Tori Telfer

Next time you start to apply mascara at a red light, think again — at least if you live in New Jersey. A proposed law would make your last-minute makeup application not just unsafe, but illegal.

The law would crack down on those who "engage in any activity unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle." First time offenders would get a fine of $200; second-time, $400-$600; third time, $600-$800. After that, they're taking away your Sephora Beauty Insider card.

The law's already drawn criticism for being too vague; plenty of car-ride behaviors aren't directly related to the operation of the vehicle, like fiddling with the radio or yelling at someone in the back seat. But scrambling to finish our makeup in the car is something we're all guilty of, and we really need to stop, New Jersey driver's license or no.

In Pennsylvania, the right to wear sexually-enhancing products is also under attack, but this time, no one's terribly sad to see it go: the proposed act is targeting Axe body spray. After a high school student was hospitalized because of an allergic reaction to someone's Axe, State Rep. Marcia Hahn decided to attempt the Fragrance Free Schools Act, which has body odor written all over it. Under the Act, once a student notifies the school that s/he has a fragrance allergy, the school will ban scented products (without revealing which student is so anti-Bath and Body Works). Hard to regulate? Yes. A little invasive? Seems that way.

Axe products are loaded with chemicals (check out the Environmental Working Group's breakdown of Axe facial scrub), so a little less of the Black Chill might actually be a good idea for still-developing boys. But it's not like they're going to start dabbing patchouli under their armpits and embracing the all-natural vibe, unless someone tells them that hippies get girls, too.

Both bills, though state-specific and fairly minor, raise an interesting question — is it our right to apply and wear our personal products whenever, wherever?

Image: theimpulsivebuy/flickr