New Car Smoking Laws

[fourteen85]

Leaving aside the ethics of whether a pregnant women should or shouldn't smoke, is an unborn child classed as under 18 for the purposes of this new law, or does a baby have to be born to be classed as ' A person'

[fiction-factory]

Regarding whether a17 year old is allowed to smoke in a car:
One report on the new law says "17-year-olds found smoking will not be fined as long as they are alone in the car, with no children present. "
That's ambiguous I think. If they are alone then there is bound to be no child present apart from themself). So does it mean alone in the car (apart from any other adults).
Anyway I don't smoke and would neve rlet anyone smoke so I'm just glad that I don't have to enforce it as a policeman, although I can see part of this is just about sending another signal and maybe encouraging some peer pressure/guilt.

[DaisyNonna]

As the police are no longer on the streets will the new law be dependent upon cameras?

[trt]

## Probably because we are not clear on the law ##

And very confusing.

[New Judge]

“As the police are no longer on the streets will the new law be dependent upon cameras?”

No, not really. The police have said they do not intend to enforce this legislation with much gusto (if at all). Its supporters say it is believed that it will engender a “change of attitude” among smoking drivers. It’s quite true that the smokers in pubs seem compliant enough without the need for rigorous or draconian enforcement. However, I’m not so sure about those in vehicles. It has been illegal to smoke in company vehicles for some time now but I don’t notice a marked reduction in the number of lorry and van drivers puffing away in their firm’s vehicles.

The legislation is unnecessarily complicated but the age thing is quite simple. Firstly, the new rules only apply if there is more than one person in the car. If there is, if any of them is under 18 then no smoking is allowed. This means a 17 year old driver can smoke in his car if he is alone but he cannot do so if he is giving his Dad a lift to the pub. Sounds as if it was drafted by a fourteen year old (or perhaps a seventeen year old).

[IggyB]

17 year old shouldn't be smoking anyway, you've got to be 18 to purchase cigarettes these days (and I'm sure that's enforce rigourously!!)

[maggiebee]

Ha ha Iggy, of course it is.

[New Judge]

Yes Iggy, you've got to be eighteen to purchase them, but no offence is committed by a seventeen year old smoking them. Of course there could be an offence committed by the person buying them for the seventeen year old, but that's another story.

[Togo]

I have not smoked in the house or in my car for 30 odd years (since my daughter was born), but am thinking of doing so in light of the supposed amount of pollution we are subject to outside.(^_*)

[Togo]

LOL New Judge. The police will not be pursuing offenders with gusto or gatso.