United Kingdom Bans Smoking In Cars When Kids Are Passengers

The ban went into effect Thursday but police are not expected to issue a rash of fines as the public becomes accustomed to the regulation. In a statement, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said police have chose to take non-confrontational approach for about first 90 days of the anti-smoking measures.

Police can now fine anyone who smokes in a auto £50, if there are also passengers who’re under 18.

“This would see people being given warnings rather than being issued with fines, which would give time for public awareness of the offences to build”.

MSP Jim Hume said: “I’m thrilled that the committee has put its full support behind my Member’s Bill, citing it as a necessary legal step in the protection of children from the damages of second-hand smoke”.

According to the British Lung Foundation, over 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars each week.

Smoking advocates called the new law unenforceable, but health officials and anti-smoking groups hailed the measure as the most important since a general ban on smoking in workplaces and enclosed public spaces took effect in England in 2007.

The changes follow an experiment by Newcastle University which found that levels of risky chemicals were over 100 times higher than recommended safety guidelines when a passenger was smoking – even with windows open. Clark argued. “The authorities, especially the police, must have better things to do”.

But Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation which represents rank and file officers, told AFP the ban would be “extremely challenging” to enforce. “Should we be focusing on people smoking in cars with children in the cars or should we be focusing on burglaries?”

“Ultimately, what we are looking for is that people change their behavior”, says Dr. Gina Radford, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England.

Research commissioned by ASH reveals that a ban on smoking in cars with children younger than 18 years of age is supported by 85 per cent of adults in England and is also supported by three quarters (74 per cent) of smokers. “We are hoping that the very fact that we have this law will make people think about smoking in front of children wherever they are”.