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Cabbie caught smoking in car is sanctioned
By Zha Minjie and Cai Wenjun |
September 7, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A Shanghai taxi driver had his license suspended for smoking in his taxi, the first cabbie to receive such a punishment since the city tightened its crackdown on smoking in public places in May.
"I regret smoking in my cab but it's a bit too late for me," said the cabbie, surnamed Yang. He was fined 50 yuan (US$7.82) and had his driver's license suspended until September 15.
Yang, who works for the Shanghai Qiangsheng Taxi Co, said he had felt tired after many hours behind the wheel and "intended to relax to light a cigarette" late on August 28.
"I went out for work at 5am that day and got really tired in the afternoon," he said. "I wouldn't smoke when passengers were onboard."
Unfortunately for Yang, a reporter from a Shanghai newspaper spotted him, took a photograph and noted his license plate. The story appeared in the next edition.
Officials with Qiangsheng said they would make sure their drivers were fully aware of the regulations, and that if they want smoke they must park their cars and do it outside.
Qiangsheng has more than 10,000 cabs in service among the city's total of 50,000.
Officials from the Shanghai Health Promotion Commission, the leading authority for smoking issues in the city, said taxi drivers smoking in their cars was a long-time annoyance but one that was hard to stamp out. The taxi watchdog, the Shanghai Traffic Law Enforcement Team, also said it was difficult to catch drivers smoking.
"They usually blame it on passengers or just throw the cigarette away," said a team official, surnamed Miao.
The commission said 67 taxi drivers had been fined a total of 7,700 yuan for violating Shanghai's smoking-control regulation since it was enacted in March 2010.
The regulation bans smoking in public transport including taxis.
In the first half of this year, 14 cabbies were fined a total of 700 yuan for smoking.
Tang Qiong from the commission said the authority will enhance administration on cabbies who smoke inside their cars, while they are also working on measures to control smoking passengers.
Passengers can refuse to pay the fare if their driver smokes during the journey, according to the regulations of most taxi companies in the city.
"I regret smoking in my cab but it's a bit too late for me," said the cabbie, surnamed Yang. He was fined 50 yuan (US$7.82) and had his driver's license suspended until September 15.
Yang, who works for the Shanghai Qiangsheng Taxi Co, said he had felt tired after many hours behind the wheel and "intended to relax to light a cigarette" late on August 28.
"I went out for work at 5am that day and got really tired in the afternoon," he said. "I wouldn't smoke when passengers were onboard."
Unfortunately for Yang, a reporter from a Shanghai newspaper spotted him, took a photograph and noted his license plate. The story appeared in the next edition.
Officials with Qiangsheng said they would make sure their drivers were fully aware of the regulations, and that if they want smoke they must park their cars and do it outside.
Qiangsheng has more than 10,000 cabs in service among the city's total of 50,000.
Officials from the Shanghai Health Promotion Commission, the leading authority for smoking issues in the city, said taxi drivers smoking in their cars was a long-time annoyance but one that was hard to stamp out. The taxi watchdog, the Shanghai Traffic Law Enforcement Team, also said it was difficult to catch drivers smoking.
"They usually blame it on passengers or just throw the cigarette away," said a team official, surnamed Miao.
The commission said 67 taxi drivers had been fined a total of 7,700 yuan for violating Shanghai's smoking-control regulation since it was enacted in March 2010.
The regulation bans smoking in public transport including taxis.
In the first half of this year, 14 cabbies were fined a total of 700 yuan for smoking.
Tang Qiong from the commission said the authority will enhance administration on cabbies who smoke inside their cars, while they are also working on measures to control smoking passengers.
Passengers can refuse to pay the fare if their driver smokes during the journey, according to the regulations of most taxi companies in the city.
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