20-05-2007
Van insurance firm warns of smoking ban confusion
The forthcoming smoking ban in England is likely to cause confusion among small business owners, a van insurance firm has warned.
From July 1st, it will be illegal to smoke indoors in public places or in the workplace, and that will include company cars and vans, Budget Van Insurance has advised.
However, the insurer is concerned that many small firms are uncertain of how they will be affected by the new laws and is urging companies to find out about the rules ahead of the ban.
Matthew Gledhill, managing director of Budget Van Insurance, commented: "We welcome the steps being taken by the government to make our working environments safer; however we are concerned that small business owners may not be aware of their legal responsibilities under the legislation and unwittingly land themselves in hot water with the law."
Firms will face on-the-spot fixed penalty fines starting at £30 but could face fines as high as £2,500 if a court sees fit.
"We would urge businesses to do their research to ensure that their houses are in order well before July 1st," Mr Gledhill added.
The rules will apply to any enclosed public place, including temporary shelters that have a roof and openings in the walls amounting to less than half of the total area of the walls, as well as vehicles where the roof cannot be removed or stowed away.
