Warning issued to vapers puffing in public places after new law will land users with hefty fines
Vapers puffing on their e-cigarettes while waiting for public transport could face hefty fines under new proposed legislation.
It's been a tough year for fans of e-cigarettes, as a crackdown on the sale and supply of vapes last month saw single-use products banned across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
And new rules being weighed up by the UK government could mean whipping out your fruity vape while waiting for the bus will be a thing of the past.
According to a new report from The Sun, the UK government is looking at granting transport bodies the ability to issue fines to anyone caught vaping while waiting for a bus.
Advert
The prospective law would include open air bus stops as well as more enclosed shelters and is part of a wider group of measures seeking to tackle anti-social behaviour on public transport.
Vaping is already banned on board buses and inside bus stations - although this doesn't really stop people from doing it - meaning the rules would be pretty standardised across the entire public transport network.
Fines for anyone caught vaping could be as much as £100, with failure to pay seeing this fee rise to a blistering £1,000.
The move - which is currently going through parliament - has been met with backlash from opposition parties, with Conservative Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake claiming: "The Government is trying to crack down on vaping without being upfront about it.
READ MORE
VAPE SHOP OWNER GIVES 'HONEST' OPINION ON BAN
ALL CHANGES MADE BY UK'S NEW VAPE BAN
"It’s giving puffed-up mayors like Sadiq Khan more power to mess with people’s daily routines."
However, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport has since disputed this, telling LADbible: "Our Bus Services Bill includes measures that will empower local transport authorities to crack down on nuisance behaviour, making the bus network safer and more pleasant for everyone.
"The suggestion these measures amount to a stealth vaping ban is totally false."
The spokesperson adds that fines will only be issued as a last resort, if a person does not respond to prior warnings.
Where is vaping banned in the UK?
Vaping is not currently covered by the smoking ban - which made lighting up a cigarette in enclosed public spaces such as bars and restaurants illegal back in 2007 - meaning restrictions about where and when you can vape are more murky.
Rules around vaping in public are largely up to the discretion of local authorities and business owners, however vaping is typically prohibited inside public spaces (such as restaurants and shops) as well as on school and hospital grounds.
Vaping is also banned on board public transport, with many train stations enforcing a blanket ban on smoking and vaping on platforms as well.
Brenna Cooper