Taxi Driver Online

Makes the Liverpool echo web site


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/fare-cop-90-liverpool-cigarette-6594482



Fare cop: 90% of Liverpool cigarette fines are for smoking in taxis
25 Jan 2014 19:08

418 people caught smoking in taxis since 2008

More than 90% of cigarette fines in Liverpool are for smoking in taxis.

Liverpool council has dished out 445 fines for smoking in public since 2008 – and 418 of these were for lighting up in cabs.

But smokers were also slapped with penalties in takeaways, pubs, a prison van and Millennium House, where some local authority offices are based.

The council said taxis are classed as places of work under the 2007 smoking ban. But Wayne Casey, from the National Taxi Association, said cab drivers were an “easy target”.



“If you are reported for smoking, it is difficult for taxi drivers to challenge,” he said.

“Most will just hold their hands up and pay the fine.

“The last thing you want is to risk losing your licence.”

There were 32 penalties – costing up to £200 each – given out by the city council in 2008. There were then 44 in 2009, 111 in 2010, 61 in 2011, 65 in 2012 and 132 last year.

The figures, released through Freedom of Information laws, show 27 fines were given out for smoking in Hanover Street last year – the most of any road in Liverpool.

There were another 20 given out in Victoria Street and 10 in each of Berry Street, North John Street and West Derby Road.



Three smokers was penalised for lighting up at Millennium House, in Whitechapel, in 2012.

Another was done for smoking inside Walton railway station last year.

One smoker even lit up inside a prison van last year in Crosshall Street, near the magistrates’ court in Dale Street.

A Liverpool council spokesman said: “With a few exceptions, the penalties which have been issued are for smoking in taxis, which are a workplace.

“We consider it particularly important to deal with smoking in small work environments, such as taxis, for the health of both passenger and driver.

“Liverpool led the way in campaigning for the legislation to prohibit smoking in public areas and we are determined to see it is enforced.”

No bus drivers or lorry drivers then.

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Grandad,

Or any council employee driving a council vehicle or being a passenger in one

I wonder how many uniformed officers enjoy a cheeky puff whilst on duty?

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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing...

CC's comment:





And here's me thinking the punishment should fit the crime. Surely, having a fly puff when one is addicted to a government-sanctioned drug product, it should not result in the loss of your livelihood.

The power of the National Taxi Association does it again. And how do you risk losing your licence by not paying the fine?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I can't think why smokers are not simply banned from driving taxis. They are after all addicted to a drug that kills around 100,000 people in the UK every year.

It would be simpler to exclude smokers from the licence application process. "Do you smoke, answer - YES, well fu*k off.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

No it's easier to fine cabbies.

But if that many have been caught then, IMO, they are more than a tad thick.

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IDFIMH

If I was a smoker id allways have one of the electronic ones in my cab,in case some jobsworth thought he saw me smoking

They are being banned by our council.

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Grandad,

Unacceptable.

Totally disproportionate to the offence.

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IDFIMH

They are making it an offense to use one in the cab, punishable by penalty points and prosecution.

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Grandad,

I respect the fact that smokers may have slightly less stamina than your average non-smoker but how much energy does it take to GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE then indulge yourself whilst stood next to your door? Sussex suggests they are thick ... I would add LAZY!

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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing...

May I ask why the title of the post was changed from "TDO's Wayne Casey" to "TDO's Wayne Casey comments on smoking in cabs" (and expect a reply) and by whom so I can make a model rag doll of them to stick pins in !

More fool your council,next they will stop you chewing a pen as it looks like a cig !

I would guess because the story isn't about TDO's CC, it's about cabbies smoking in their cabs.

Also I think there is a rule about having threads with members names in.

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IDFIMH