Smoking in cars – the rules

What you can and can’t do from 1 October

From the beginning of October the non-smoking law will cover private cars

14 October 2015

Not many people realise that smoking in a company car where more than one person can drive it has been illegal since 2007.

From the beginning of October this non-smoking law will cover private cars as well.

There are a few other new rules coming into force in October, and they’re generating a fair bit of controversy. In simple terms you won’t be able to smoke in a car at all if someone under 18 is present in the vehicle.

In those circumstances, if you’re the driver and you don't stop another adult smoking, both of you will be committing an offence. You can both be issued with a warning or a £50 fixed penalty notice by police and enforcement agencies.

They can even refer the offence to a court.

Opening the sunroof or windows in a private vehicle with a wholly or partly enclosed roof won't protect you from this law, but a convertible with the roof down will be exempt – until you raise the roof at least.

Vapers aren’t subject to the new rules.

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Smoking in cars – the rules

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