05/05/2009 - Work drivers breaking smoking ban
Research by Belfast City Council has found that nine out of every 10 people fined for breaking the smoking ban are commercial drivers.
According to the council, motorists who make their living behind the wheel - including taxi drivers - are the worst offenders when it comes to smoking in non-smoking areas.
The figures have been released to coincide with the second anniversary of the ban's introduction in Northern Ireland, and shows that 230 fixed penalty notices have been issued over the past two years.
Of these fines, 88% were in relation to people smoking in work vehicles, where people are subject to a £50 fine.
Cathal Mullaghan, chairman of the council's health and environmental services committee, said: "We understood there would be a bedding-in period for the legislation and council staff have worked tirelessly with businesses and employers across the city to explain how the law affects them and their workers.
"On this, the second anniversary, we want to remind anyone who drives for a living, whether it be a white van, a taxi or a goods vehicle, that smoking behind the wheel is against the law and must be stubbed out."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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