I know there's a thread on this topic.. but it's drifted somewhere.
Quote:
Cab driver fined for smoking
Ciara Leeming
12/10/2007
A CAB driver has been fined £50 after being caught smoking in his vehicle.
It is believed to be the first case of its kind in Britain.
The fixed penalty notice was handed out after a council official spotted Iftikhar Ahmed, 50, smoking a cigarette while parked in his car in Oldham. Since July 1, it has been illegal to smoke in any place of work - mainly pubs and restaurants but also including taxis, private hire vehicles and lorry cabs.
The new legislation aims to protect members of the public from second-hand smoke.
The Motown Taxis driver was parked on Rochdale Road and was not carrying a passenger. It is understood he had previously been warned for smoking in his private hire car.
It is thought this is the first time a vehicle driver has been targeted in Britain since the new legislation came into force. Sixty-a-day smoker Mr Ahmed, from Oldham, said he had paid the fine and learned his lesson. He said: "The smoking ban is a good law. I was caught breaking it and have been punished.
"I won't be smoking in my vehicle again - I can't afford to get any more fines. I have been smoking 40 to 60 cigarettes a day since 1971, and could do with cutting down anyway."
However, smokers' rights group Forest slammed the fine as a `ridiculous over-reaction'.
A spokesman said: "Most taxi drivers own their own vehicles. The ban on someone smoking inside what is their own property is one of the most absurd things about this legislation.
"Being told what they can and can't do in their vehicle is a huge invasion of privacy and freedom. I think most people would regard this case as a ludicrous waste of everyone's time."
An Oldham council spokesman said: "The new controls have the potential to make one of the largest community health improvements in the borough. The council is working to deliver advice and enforcement in relation to the controls.
"The council will always give advice to individuals and employers regarding the controls, but will also use formal action, where necessary, to safeguard members of the public."
Since July 1 it has also been an offence not to display no-smoking signs in smoke-free premises and vehicles. Failure to do so can lead to a £200 fine. In addition, anyone in charge of a smoke-free premises or vehicle who fails to prevent people smoking can be fined £2,500.
I will always advise NOT to smoke or to GIVE UP the habit. I will always prescribe something to help smokers give up on the basis it rather limits what I can do to prolong quality of life. I would not dictate though.. as the patient has to make his own life choices based on the information I and the rest of the NHS can give.
I'd say some discretion and understanding of the "hook" here would help me ween folk off this habit.
Sledgehammers don't work.
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