Man given £100 fine for smoking in taxi office

Flouting the smoking ban

Published Date:
24 January 2009
By Stef Hall
A man has been fined for lighting up in a no-smoking taxi office.
Michael Hartley, 53, of Homestead, Bamber Bridge, was spotted with a lit cigarette in the offices of DB Taxis in Factory Lane, Penwortham, by council officials.

He was found guilty in his absence at Leyland Magistrates Court and fined £100.

Today, a spokesman for the firm said Hartley no longer worked for them.

The court heard how licensing and environmental officers smelt cigarette smoke throughout the office, kitchen and toilet, and found three butts on the floor under the kitchen sink when they visited the premises on September 4 last year.

Hartley was the only person in the office at the time.

South Ribble Council's licensing official and a taxi licensing officer revisited the premises on September 16 and saw Hartley standing by the counter with a lit cigarette in his hand.

He was served with a £30 fixed penalty notice if he paid within 15 days, or £50 within 29 days.

When he failed to pay, the council wrote to him and gave him another seven days. But no settlement was received and Hartley was summoned to appear before magistrates.

He did not turn up and he was fined and asked to pay £75 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Coun Peter Mullineaux, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental and green issues at South Ribble Council, said: "In cases like this, where individuals show a blatant disregard for the law, our officers will use the full weight of the law to bring offenders to account."
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Man-given-100-fine-for.4909349.jp

They all stand at the door of Mercury office having a fag, and blowing all the smoke back in, so might as well smoke a couple of feet inside and get out of the cold.