A new law which prohibits smokers lighting up in a car with children inside is to come into force, but police say they will be taking a softly-softly approach.
From Thursday onwards officers will be able to pull over motorists smoking while driving with children and issue an on-the-spot £50 fine, which could increase to £2,500 if the motorist is taken to court.
However police chiefs say they will not be heavily enforcing the ban, meaning officers will often let motorists off with a warning, exercising ‘education not prosecution’.
A spokesperson for the National Police Chief’s Council said: ‘Forces will be following guidance from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health by taking an educational, advisory and non-confrontational approach.’
The relaxed attitude to the new legislation continues on from the debate between ministers on the law, with many calling the new rules unenforceable and unnecessary.
However a Department of Health source told MailOnline that officials were not expecting police to hunt for offenders.
The new law also stipulates that if a passenger is smoking in a car with a child present, both the adult passenger and the driver are committing an offence.
Smoking is also prohibited in a motorhome if a child is inside (but only if it is moving) under the new law.
Read more:
http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/30/smoking-in-cars-with-children-will-be-illegal-from-tomorrow-but-the-police-wont-prioritise-it-5413808/Welp - that's the grand kids pissed off. No more me driving them places, I guess.
