Car smoke ban "excessive" and "unnecessary"

Thu 18th December, 2014

Prohibiting smoking in cars with children is "unnecessary", "excessive" and a "gross intrusion on people's privacy", says Forest.

Responding to the publication of regulations prohibiting smoking in cars with children in England from October 2015, director Simon Clark said:

"The government is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The overwhelming majority of smokers know smoking in a car with children is inconsiderate and they don't do it.

"The regulations are unnecessary and excessive. Do we really want to criminalise people for lighting a cigarette in a private vehicle?

"How is the law going to be enforced? The police have better things to do than look for drivers smoking on the off chance there's a child in the car.

"The next step will be a ban on smoking in all private vehicles followed by measures to prevent smoking in the home.
"It's a gross intrusion on people's privacy."

Note: Regulations prohibiting smoking in cars with children in England were laid before Parliament on December 17 so they can be voted on and put in place from 1st October 2015. 

The regulations will prohibit smoking in cars containing children under 18. The measure was first proposed as a Labour amendment to the Children and Families Bill in the Lords in January, and then adopted by the Government.

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