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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Car smoking ban comes into force | Car smoking ban comes into force |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children has come into force in England and Wales. | A law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children has come into force in England and Wales. |
| Drivers and passengers who break the law could face a penalty fine of £50 - but police say they will take a non-confrontational approach initially. | Drivers and passengers who break the law could face a penalty fine of £50 - but police say they will take a non-confrontational approach initially. |
| Whenever an under-18 is in the car, smokers will still be liable even if the windows are down or sunroof open. | |
| But the law will not apply to people who are driving in a convertible which has the roof down. | But the law will not apply to people who are driving in a convertible which has the roof down. |
| The Scottish Parliament is expected to consider bringing in its own law banning smoking in cars carrying children next year. | |
| More than 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars each week, according to the British Lung Foundation, | More than 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars each week, according to the British Lung Foundation, |
| Passive smoking | Passive smoking |
| Exposing children to passive smoking can increase the risk of asthma, meningitis and cot death. | Exposing children to passive smoking can increase the risk of asthma, meningitis and cot death. |
| Health campaigners have hailed the move as a "tremendous victory" and the most significant milestone since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007. | Health campaigners have hailed the move as a "tremendous victory" and the most significant milestone since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007. |
| But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "The new law is unnecessary and almost certainly unenforceable. | But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "The new law is unnecessary and almost certainly unenforceable. |
| "The overwhelming majority of smokers know smoking in a car carrying children is inconsiderate and they don't do it. | "The overwhelming majority of smokers know smoking in a car carrying children is inconsiderate and they don't do it. |
| "If drivers are spotted smoking will they be stopped in case there's a child in the back? The authorities, especially the police, must have better things to do." | "If drivers are spotted smoking will they be stopped in case there's a child in the back? The authorities, especially the police, must have better things to do." |
| A history of smoking legislation in the UK | A history of smoking legislation in the UK |
| A National Police Chiefs' Council spokeswoman said: "Police forces will be taking an educational, advisory and non-confrontational approach when enforcing the new legislation. | A National Police Chiefs' Council spokeswoman said: "Police forces will be taking an educational, advisory and non-confrontational approach when enforcing the new legislation. |
| "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." | "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." |