Scotland bans smoking in private cars carrying a person aged under 18

Implementation date: 5 December 2016

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/259) introduce a ban on smoking in private cars carrying a person aged under 18, with the aim of protecting children from the health risks associated with exposure to second hand smoke in vehicles. The new law means that it is a criminal offence in Scotland for an adult to smoke in a private vehicle when there is also a person aged under 18 and the vehicle is in a public place. There is an exception where the vehicle is designed or adapted for use as living accommodation, such as a motor home.