Readers of my ‘blog’ will have noted that I have written about these changes in legislation before….But it is worth reminding Wednesfield residents that the law is changing next month with regard to smoking in private cars.
Next month it will be illegal to smoke in a vehicle carrying anyone under 18.
Earlier this year MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move, which aims to protect young people under-18 from second-hand smoke.
So from 1 October 2015, private vehicles must be smokefree if they are enclosed, there is more than one person present and one of them is under 18.
So it will be an offence:
- for a person of any age to smoke in a private vehicle that is carrying someone who is under 18
- for a driver (including a provisional driver) not to stop someone smoking in these circumstancesThe legislation covers any private vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof. A convertible car, or coupe, with the roof completely down and stowed is not enclosed and so isn’t covered by the legislation.Sitting in the open doorway of an enclosed vehicle is covered by the legislation.The rules don’t apply to:
- The rules apply to motorhomes, campervans and caravans when they are being used as a vehicle but don’t apply when they are being used as living accommodation.
- But a vehicle with a sunroof open is still enclosed and so is covered by the legislation.
- The rules don’t apply to e-cigarettes.
- boats, ships and aircraft, as they have their own rules
- work vehicles and public transport, as they are already covered by smokefree legislation
- I do hope that this information is helpful to you….
