Police say smoking with kids in car is ‘low priority’ offence

A CRACKDOWN on smoking in cars with children present will start tomorrow – but it suffered a blow yesterday, as police warned it will be a low priority.

Under the new law, smokers face on-the-spot fines of up to £100, rising to £1,000 for repeat offenders.

Campaigners insist it will save lives, particularly as children are more vulnerable to secondhand smoke than adults. But police insist drink and drug driving, speeding and using a mobile phone while at the wheel will remain their main focus.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: ‘Officers will deal with this should they come across it in the course of their duties and will be expected to use their discretion.

‘This is principally a health issue and one in which local authorities are taking the lead.

‘Our main priority is keeping people safe on the roads by robustly tackling drink/drug driving, speeding, mobile phone use and the use of seat belts.’

That will disappoint MSPs, who unanimously approved the measure just over a year ago.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘It’s simply not safe to smoke when a child is in the car. Dangerous levels of chemicals can build up, even on short journeys, and 85 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless, so you can’t always see what they’re breathing in.

‘We know for a fact poisonous chemicals in second-hand smoke are extremely damaging to our health. We also know that children breathe faster than adults, meaning they ingest more of the deadly toxins.

‘This Government is committed to protecting children from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.’

Pro-smoking group Forest said the ban was ‘unnecessary and unenforceable’.