Taxi Driver Online

Dozens of cabbies are flouting smoking ban


BLACKPOOL cabbies were today warned they risk losing their licences or paying up to £300 in penalties if they light up in their vehicles.

The Gazette can reveal that since April more than 50 drivers have been fined on the spot after being caught smoking in their taxis.

Those who have not paid the £50 fixed penalty notice (reduced to £30 if paid within 15 days), or who are persistent offenders, have been taken to court.

There have been 12 prosecutions since April.

The last driver to appear before magistrates was fined £150 with £150 costs.

Because the cabs are deemed to be a place of work, drivers are banned from smoking even between pick-ups. One cabbie, who was caught out twice in six days, has been hauled before Blackpool Council’s public protection sub-committee and given a severe warning.

Chairman of Licensing, Coun Henry Mitchell, said: “Under the Health Act, a taxi is considered to be a place of work just as a pub or a restaurant is.

“So the ban is applicable and even if a driver does not have any passengers in the back, he or she cannot smoke.

“They can’t even just wind the window down – they must leave the vehicle. The council has issued more than 50 fixed penalty notices since April this year because of this which is far too many. We need to send out a message that smoking will not be tolerated.

“One driver has already been given a severe warning and if he is caught again he may have his licence suspended. Other drivers could find themselves in the same position if they flout the rules, so we are saying, just don’t smoke in your vehicle.”

The Blackpool Licensed Taxi Association said it did not wish to comment on the issue.

In January this year, a driver was ordered to pay more than £500 by Blackpool magistrates after failing to put a “No Smoking” sticker in his cab.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

damn right too

rules are rules

They need something else to do rather than picking on Cab Drivers.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Everybody is much healthier now that smoking has been banned...... but..... are skint...... bring back smoking..... reopen the public houses that are being closed... reopen the Bingos..... and maybe Taxi drivers' will make some more money..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!