SMOKERS in Gedling are being reminded that lighting up in a car with children inside will become illegal from tomorrow.
Under the new legislation – which comes into force from October 1 – it will be a criminal offence in England and Wales to smoke in any vehicle with someone aged younger than 18 present. Anyone caught flouting the new law – which is intended to protect children from the dangers of passive smoking – will face a £50 fine.
It will also be an offence for a driver not to stop a passenger smoking while under-18s are in the vehicle.
Drivers will only exempt when driving convertible cars with the roof is completely down. Smoking while windows or sunroofs are open, air conditioning is on or while sitting in the open doorway is still an offence.
Although 17-year-old drivers and those with provisional licences are also covered by the law, those aged 17 with no one else in the car are exempt.
The rules apply to motorhomes, caravans and camper vans when they are being used as vehicles, but not when they are being used as living accommodation.
E-cigarettes are not covered by the new legislation.
Jane Ellison MP, the Under Secretary of State for Public Health, said: “Three million children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars, putting their health at risk. We know that many of them feel embarrassed or frightened to ask adults to stop smoking which is why the regulations are an important step in protecting children from the harms of secondhand smoke.”
