A WEYMOUTH taxi company boss has been ordered to pay £450 for smoking in his car.

Robert Wyn Huntley, the 60- year-old owner of Fleetline Taxi’s, pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £450 costs by Weymouth Magistrates Court.

It was the second time Mr Huntley, of Clare Avenue, Chickerell, had committed the offence.

He had been given a fixed penalty notice in August 2009 for smoking in his taxi and was fined £30.

On March 5, this year, Mr Huntley was seen smoking in his Citroen Picasso private hire car.

Under the Health Act 2006, it has been illegal for people to smoke in a vehicle used for work since July 2007.

Chairman of the bench Sir Philip Williams said the incident had been an ‘expensive momentary lapse’ on Mr Huntley’s part.

A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, who brought the case against the company owner, said: “Smoking a cigarette releases a variety of chemicals into the surrounding area.

“These chemicals are often referred to as ‘second-hand smoke’ and they can have extremely harmful effects on humans.”

He added: “Cigarette smoke chemicals can remain in a room or in this instance a taxi for several hours after the cigarette was smoked. “Levels of second-hand smoke in cars can be extremely high because of the restricted area in which the smoke is circulated.”

Mr Huntley was unavailable for comment.

source: http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/