Apprentices smoking in vans

In Scotland, a person in control of the premises (which includes vehicles used primarily for business purposes) knowingly permitting smoking is liable to receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice of =A3200 or being prosecuted and receiving a fine of =A32,500.

If you bring your van up to Scotland remember to affix the required No Smoking sticker in the windscreen at the border.

Owain

Fairly sure that something similar applies in England as well.

I am told smoking is not allowed in my (leased) co car, even during private use.

There is a sign, on the back of the VEL holder. It's not an issue for me as I don't smoke and would never allow a passenger to do so. What others chose to do in their own co cars is their own business and there is certainly no pro-active enforcement or spying going on by our management or the leasing co.

I act as a driver for a local charity, taking people to the doctor, etc. I ma required by law to have a "No Smoking" sign in my car when I do this. I find that intrusive.

Many leasing companies imposed that long before the smoking ban, because it made the cars impossible to sell on afterwards without a lot of work. I know of one person who ignored this and got a bill for around 5 grand at the end of the lease which the employer deducted from his salary, and refused him a company car afterwards because he tried arguing out of it (unsuccessfully).

it could certainly require a new head lining. You really can't get the nicotine smoke deposits out of that.

My grandfather was quite imfamous (some 50 years ago) for smoking whilst driving the family. The routine was normally some variation on cig in mouth, take out match and strike it whilst steering with his knees, shake match once so it didn't actually go out and chuck it out the window, which is closed so it bounces back still lit into his lap, or the footwell, or under the seat, or into the back of the car, and the next half mile is driven with his head under the dashboard searching for it. Remarkably, he never had a single accident...

You certainly can. Smoke deposits are all water soluble. Modern headlining is commonly synthetics.

My father smoked a pipe while driving. That was a performance which needed to be seen to believe. ;-)

Yet he drove many more miles than was the norm in those days since he was a salesman. Up to 30,000 miles a year, without accident.

But he saw hundreds... B-)

Worse than the bloody French you lot at tricking us English folk into paying fines.

I work for an animal rescue centre. The beagles are always trying to pinch a cig off me when in my van.

Mr Salmond has to finance his Scottish Socialist Republic somehow.

And alcohol costs more up here now ;-(

Owain

On the other hand, I'd rather buy a car from a smoker than one which had been used for dogs. Or by builders, for that matter. Smelly bastards, all.

I can't believe that. Much as I still love the stuff, I'm under no illusions about the mess it leaves behind

I've valeted plenty of cars which have been smoked in and have a product which you spray on and the nicotine deposits literally melt and run off ready to be wiped off. It is harder getting rid of the smell though.

Yes, many years ago I used to valet secondhand and hire cars. The brown liquid used to run off.

(and that was a long time ago. I worked for a Mr Thomsett, who had a daughter who was an up and coming actress. That will date me for some of the older ones here...)

With my father the performance included asking me to steer while he went about it, must have been about 8 years old when I first did it leaning over from the front passenger seat . This was on winding Devon lanes not just maintaining a steady course on a decent straighter road, the bugger didn't slow down either.

G.Harman

It's off those signs. You have to have them on all office doors too.

Well, apparently there's one exemption. I don't recall seeing one on 10 Downing St...

Andy