Clackmannanshire Council Online

Cigarette Costs Bus Driver £50

A bus driver who was caught smoking on his bus during the morning rush hour has been fined £50.

The driver, who lit up at the Shillinghill bus stance on Tuesday 7th October, was seen openly smoking as his passengers got on the bus.

Andrew Crawford, Clackmannanshire Council's Environmental Health Team Leader said: "The driver was totally blatant in his smoking, making no attempt to hide the fact at all. He sat there for a couple of minutes smoking his cigarette before driving off. During that time passengers were seen getting on the bus and he continued to smoke. This breach of the smoking ban is completely unacceptable."

The case was investigated by Environmental Health Officers and the driver was given a £50 fixed penalty notice for breaking the smoking ban regulations.

Councillor Eddie Carrick, the Council's Sustainability Portfolio Holder, said: "It was totally unacceptable for this driver to smoke on his bus. To smoke as passengers were getting on board shows a disregard for their health and well being. The Council will continue to take action against people who flout the ban on smoking. We are determined to ensure that Clackmannanshire remains a safe and healthy place in which to live, work and visit."

Notes to Editors

Since the smoking ban came into force in March 2006 Clackmannanshire Council has issued 4 fixed penalty notices.

Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued for:

• Permitting someone to smoke in a prohibited place - £200 reduced to £150 if paid within 14 days.
• Smoking in a prohibited place - £50 reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
• Failing to display no smoking signs - £200 reduced to £150 if paid within 14 days.