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Taxi driver ticked off for smoking in his cab
10:00am Thursday 13th September 2007
Comments (23)A YORK taxi driver has been ticked off after being caught smoking in his own cab.
The driver was caught during a spot check of hackney cabs and private hire vehicles by City of York Council's smokefree enforcement officers.
According to the council, the spot checks revealed that 13 of the 41 vehicles stopped did not have "no smoking" signs in their vehicles, or had incorrect signs.
Dawn Clarkson, the council's senior smokefree enforcement officer, said: "All hackney and private hire vehicle owners and drivers have been issued with detailed information about their responsibilities in relation to the new legislation, so it was a little bit disappointing to come across so many breaches.
"We are writing to all drivers and owners again to remind them of their responsibilities. Signage has been made available free of charge from the Smokefree England website, taxi licensing and at vehicle inspections."
"Smokefree legislation requires smoke free vehicles to display a no smoking' sign in each compartment of the vehicle.
"This must show the international no smoking symbol, which must be at least 70mm in diameter. Smoke free vehicles are required to be smoke free at all times."
New laws which ban smoking from all enclosed spaces in England including taxis came into effect on July 1, this year.
Barry Hemer, who is the chairman of the York Private Hire Association, said: "As far as I am aware, the driver has said he did not realise that he was not supposed to smoke in his taxi and that it was an accident.
"Hopefully, this implies that it won't happen again and to ensure that everyone is aware of the new legislation, we are working with City of York Council to notify everybody of the changes.
"I understand City of York Council will be writing to taxi drivers individually and we will be putting up notices in our offices."
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Mark, york says...
10:05am Thu 13 Sep 07
SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
10:08am Thu 13 Sep 07
So did this idiot receive a fine for his misdermeanerHe should have received a fine for being an ignoramus - though I don't actually believe he was unaware of the legislation!
Not Jimbob, Not York says...
10:11am Thu 13 Sep 07
YORKIE, york says...
10:12am Thu 13 Sep 07
YORKIE, york says...
10:12am Thu 13 Sep 07
A user, Selby says...
10:14am Thu 13 Sep 07
A user, Selby says...
10:16am Thu 13 Sep 07
Bev, york says...
10:28am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
10:38am Thu 13 Sep 07
julie, york says...
10:45am Thu 13 Sep 07
GDave, York says...
10:50am Thu 13 Sep 07
Good isn't it?
I was on a bus on my way to work a couple of years ago. For the first 10 minutes, the driver was having a rant at someone on his mobile.
Got my phone out and rang First to report it, driver heard me and had a rant at me!
You have to laugh
Dachande07, York says...
11:02am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rust_Never_Sleeps wrote:People on phones driving annoy me no end, especially those that text and drive.
You should have told him to stop using the phone. I once did and the driver was livid though he didn't say anything. It was good fun enjoying his anger as it boiled inside him.
Although I have seen numerous patrol cars drive passed offenders and not even bat an eye lid.
So unless the police are on a particular drive to catch phone users it seems they're not really that bothered, or they have been told from there bosses to let it go in favour of the latest initiative.
Jo, York says...
11:21am Thu 13 Sep 07
John M, says...
12:07pm Thu 13 Sep 07
ohsotired, york says...
12:31pm Thu 13 Sep 07
John M wrote:don't give them ideas,where will the chavs go to smoke and drink it they can't go in the bus shelters.
I would suggest that the enforcement staff also look at enclosed bus shelters. There are two brick built ones in Osbaldwick without signs. Signs have been posted on the opposite side of the bus stop signs several meters away, and are not visible at all from the shelters.
Peter, york says...
12:47pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Diogenes, York says...
3:14pm Thu 13 Sep 07
He should lose his licence!
Acomb Resident, Acomb says...
6:20pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Are we really all so happy that a team of 3 civil servants, 2 which were joined to the hip of Dawn Clarkson, paid for by us who DO work, are trailing round the cabs of York looking to see if signs measure 70mm, are round, and our great european parlimentarians approve of ?
Are there not more pressing priorities in this City, in which our money would be best spent? If not, then tell me where i can get some rose tint glasses from.
So, a cabbie had a drag between customers we may presume. And..., Hello? Its HIS BLOODY car. Dont get in it if you dont like the smell.
I thought the whole Issue of banning smoking in public places, was about the harmful effects of breathing in second hand smoke, which cant realistically be argued.
If its not, then what next? The banning Offensive aftershave, body odour. Oh, and I'm not talking about your drivers.
Get a life, or at least stick a European approved perpendicular cucumber where the sun dont shine, but dont forget to remove your heads first
Pay no rent, Scotland says...
7:15pm Thu 13 Sep 07
if stopped you do not have to give any details what so ever, they cannot detain you, and the police will not involved unless there is an assault so whats the point of having them
Pay no rent, Scotland says...
7:35pm Thu 13 Sep 07
What will the councils do when they start loosing licence revenue from all the pubs that will close, there is one a week closing in Scotland,
but I have noticed there are now more house party's, people are getting there drink far cheaper from supermarkets and they can smoke as well so all that happened is the pubs loose out on trade jobs are lost, and the councils loose licence revenue
As for smoking in bus shelters if it has not got a door on it it that can be closed is not enclosed
Fat Harry, says...
9:07am Fri 14 Sep 07
It may or may not be the driver's car, but he's inviting members of the public into it, therefore it is a public place and he shouldn't be forcing people to inhale his poisonous chemicals.
Acomb Resident, Acomb says...
6:27pm Fri 14 Sep 07
What a load of bo***cks. You'll get more harmful chemicals from following a first york bus than a ciggy had 20 minutes previous in Cab. Anyway Fat Harry, You missed my point. Are you happy to subscribe to over £60,000 to have someone check ashtrays and signs?? in Taxis. Is our City so bloody marvellous there aint more pressing issues?
Dawn Clarkson
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Not Jimbob, Not York says...
10:04am Thu 13 Sep 07