The Welsh government has announced the launch of a smoking ban in vehicles carrying minors under 18. If offenders are found to be in breach of the new regulation, they will receive a £50 fine.  

Introduced by First Minister Carwyn Jones and Health Minister Mark Drakeford the law is being put in place in a bid to shield children from secondhand smoke when travelling in private vehicles. 

As well as making it an offence to smoke in a vehicle when children are present, a driver will be in breach of the law if they fail to prevent other passengers present from smoking in the vehicle when someone under the age of 18 is present. 

 

Mr Drakeford said: "We are setting out our specific plans to ban people from smoking in private vehicles. We believe the most effective way to eliminate this harm is to prohibit smoking in private vehicles."

The change in law will take effect from 2015.