Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers in Erewash banned from vaping in their vehicles

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ng-5612954

The current rule has provided a loophole that some have been exploiting

Cabbies will be banned from vaping to stop them from having a crafty fag in Erewash.

Officers say it would make it easier to stamp out cigarette smoking, which has been illegal since 2006.

Other new rules cover tyre treads and a ban on any taxi which has been rebuilt after a bad crash.

Erewash Licensing Committee also adopted measures to prevent the industry from getting involved in slavery or child sex abuse, although no cases have been reported in the borough.

Nick Thurstan, head of environment, told the committee: "We have had people using the excuse 'I was vaping or using an E-cigarette,' and not tobacco when challenged.

"It undermines our ability to effectively enforce the health acts."

Breaston councillor Kevin Miller told members: "It is excellent to see things updated.

"I am particularly keen on the vaping law. Vaping is just as offensive as the real thing."

An official report outlined worries about cars that had been rebuilt after serious accidents. It went on: "Unless repairs have been carried out by a reputable company, doubts over the safety of the vehicle may remain.

"Officers consider that licensing a vehicle that has sustained structural damage, even though it has been repaired, presents too high a risk in terms of driver and passenger safety to be licensed as a taxi or private hire vehicle."

Taxi tyres will have to show a depth of two millimetres, rather than the 1.6mm limit for private cars.

Mr Thurstan said this should reduce the risk of tyres becoming illegal between annual checks carried out by council experts.

Long Eaton councillor Howard Griffiths said the council should look at how taxis could help in tackling low carbon plans."We need to look at electric cars. We want to encourage our fleet to go to electric vehicles," he added.

Vehicles already have to meet air safety standards, the report said.

Committee chairman and Long Eaton councillor Kewal Singh Athwal told the meeting: "Keeping everybody safe is paramount."

A total of 252 consultation letters were sent to drivers and operators, giving them the chance to question the changes.

Only one person responded, saying it was difficult to find vehicles without tinted windows.

So looks like councillors and the press more bothered about banning vaping than the trade?

F***ing clueless.

The one thing that has recently been proved to stop folks smoking is vaping. Not dictates' from numpty civil servants.

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IDFIMH