‘Educational’ approach to car smoke ban

Motorists who break a new law that bans tobacco smoking in cars while children are inside are unlikely to be prosecuted or fined, according to a story in The Daily Telegraph.

Since the beginning of this month, any driver caught smoking in a vehicle carrying someone under the age of 18 has been liable to a fine of £50.

But while the police will now have the power to stop drivers and issue on the spot fines, chief officers have indicated that they will focus on taking a ‘non-confrontational’ approach.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said drivers would be “educated” rather than prosecuted.

“As the existing smoke-free law extends to vehicles, police forces will be following guidance from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health by taking an educational, advisory and non-confrontational approach when enforcing the new legislation,” the spokesman said.