Smoking in taxis / PHVs
Request ID: FOI-1233-1920
Date published: 12 August 2019
You asked
Drivers or passengers smoking in a licensed PHV/taxi may be subject to £50 fixed penalty notice or £200 court fine:
Can you please inform us how many reports you've received about this and how many fines you've issued?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1233-1920
Thank you for your request of 19 July 2019 asking for information about smoking in taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs).
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
Can you please inform us how many reports you’ve received about this [drivers or passengers smoking in licensed taxi or private hire vehicles] and how many fines you’ve issued?
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
In the past year (1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019) we received 82 reports about smoking in taxis or PHVs. This includes reports about both drivers and customers smoking in the vehicle, and includes instances of vaping. The majority of private hire customer complaints would ordinarily be directed to the private hire operator in the first instance, meaning that many will not come to our attention.
We have not issued any fines, nor do we hold data on fines issued by the courts. The prohibition of smoking in public vehicles is regulated by the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006. Only specified authorities are empowered to enforce any breach. TfL is not a specified authority in relation to these regulations. More information about the regulations and enforcement can be found online here:
www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/files/regulations_factsheet_final.pdf
Local authorities may hold data to answer this element of your request in relation to the areas within their authority.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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