With effect from 1st October 2015 there is to be a partial ban on smoking in an enclosed private vehicle carrying more than one person if there is anybody under the age of 18 years inside the vehicle. A driver who is 17 years of age who is alone in the car does not commit an offence if smoking. It does become an offence if the driver picks someone else up so has passengers in the car even if the passengers are not smoking . The ban does not apply if the vehicle is a coupe and the roof is down. Will this lead to an increase in smokers buying soft top cars ? The penalty is a £50 fine and will be imposed on the driver even if they were not smoking.
