Due to the harmful effects of smoking to those who do it and to the people around them, a smokefree law was put in place to ensure those in public areas and places of work are not exposed to any form of health risk.
What the Law Says
The legislation which was instituted in the year 2007 outlaws any form of smoking in public spaces including vehicles meant for general use or a work-related purpose. The law also condemns offices from establishing smoke rooms which were the norm before and urge owners of such premises to put appropriate smoking signs where necessary as well as in the vehicles.
The law is evident on what charges one faces once found on the wrong side of the law. Here is a brief breakdown:
- If you are found smoking in a vehicle or a place of work marked as a no-smoking zone, you are fined £50. This can be reduced to £30 if it is paid up immediately or within 15 days. If the case goes to court, the maximum fine is £200.
- Owners and managers of properties that fail to adhere to proper signage procedures are fined a fixed penalty of £200; if this amount is paid within fifteen days, it is reduced to £150. If it proceeds to court, the penalty can rise to £ 1,000.
- Managers and owners of premises that fail to uphold the law by ensuring the place are smoke-free can be fined as much as £2,500.
Notably, the legislation allows people to call through a toll-free line to report any cases where people fail to adhere to the legislation. The relevant council handles all such complaints. Reporting can be done anonymously if the complainant doesn’t want to give out their details.
The law outlaws smoking in all enclosed areas accessible to the public.