Monday, July 13, 2009

Cardiff taxi driver fined for smoking in cab.

Cardiff taxi driver has been fined for smoking in a licensed hackney carriage. The proceedings were the first issued by Cardiff Council under smoke free legislation.
Goldeep Singh from Llanon Road in Llanishen pleaded guilty to the offence under the Health Act (2006) Smoke Free Premises etc (Wales) Regulations 2007 and has been fined £65 with costs of £120 and a victim surcharge of £15. Mr Singh at first refused to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice under section 7 of the Health Act but in line with the Council's smoking enforcement protocol was then referred to Cardiff Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the offence on July 6.

Councillor Ed Bridges, Chair of Cardiff's Public Protection Committee said, "A taxi is a public place and it is illegal to smoke within the vehicle. The no smoking rule applies at all times whenever a taxi is used and the council is under duty to ensure it is enforced.

...What a silly and arrogant man Goldeep has been! It annoys me the number of people who insist on smoking in public. These smokers willfully display an arrogance that stops people confronting them. I really enjoy foreign holidays but the only fly in the ointment is that smoking is often allowed in enclosed public places. Of course back home we can enjoy enclosed public places because of the smoking ban. You do however quite often have to run the gauntlet past people smoking outside these public places.

There is no reason why we should have to put up with people smoking in enclosed public places and this includes taxis. We all know how long the stench of cigarette smoke hangs in the air and how it stays on furnishings. Anybody who cannot live without smoking for over four and a half hours is clearly a drug addict and has serious problems. Goldeep should have respected the legislation that has been in-force for a long time now. For him to refuse a fixed penalty notice is childish and his stupidity has cost him £200 in total.
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