Australia: Smokers Fined for Breaking Law

Source from:  St Marys/Mt Druitt (NSW) Star (au) 01/14/2015

TWENTY-SIX penalty infringement notices and 42 cautions were issued to smokers in the Western Sydney Local Health District during 2014.

Throughout the year, NSW Health-authorised inspectors visited 74 sites and issued on-the-spot fines of $300.

Under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, smoking is banned in enclosed public places and certain outdoor areas, such as within 10 metres of children's play equipment, at public swimming pools, at sports grounds or other recreational areas, at public transport stops and platforms and within four metres of entrances to public buildings.

NSW Health's Centre for Population Health deputy director Daniel Madeddu said the compliance checks took place at at Ermington, Granville, Lidcombe, Parramatta, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Seven Hills, Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills, Merrylands, Rooty Hill, Doonside, Westmead and Auburn.

The penalties were part of a blitz on smoking hot-spots across NSW.

"Compared with other local health districts, western Sydney had the second highest number of fines issued and third highest number of cautions issued," Mr Madeddu said.

"The fourth highest number of complaints received by the Ministry of Health regarding breaches of the legislation was in relation to the western Sydney area."

Mr Madeddu said compliance with the legislation was generally high, with more than 98 per cent compliance both statewide and in the Western Sydney Local Health District.

The western Sydney district director of population health Stephen Corbett said most people, when made aware of the law, put out their cigarettes and moved on.

From July 6 it will be against the law to smoke in outdoor eating areas while food is being served. Enditem