Liverpool hackney carriage taxi driver found smoking in licensed vehicle during council check
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
A licensed hackney carriage taxi driver in Liverpool has been found smoking inside his taxi during an evening compliance check by licensing officers, according to a statement posted by Liverpool City Council Licensing.
The incident was highlighted on social media by the council’s licensing team, which said the driver was discovered smoking inside his licensed vehicle during checks carried out the previous evening.
The council stated: “Yesterday evening a Liverpool City Council licensed Hackney carriage driver was found to be smoking inside of his licensed vehicle.”
The authority also reminded drivers that such behaviour breaches national smoke-free legislation. “Under the Health Act 2006, smoking is prohibited in enclosed workplaces. This includes licensed Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles,” the council said.
Liverpool City Council licensing officers remind drivers that smoking inside taxis breaches smoke-free workplace laws.
Taxi and private hire vehicles are classed as workplaces under the law when used for hire and reward, meaning drivers must not smoke inside the vehicle at any time, regardless of whether passengers are present.
Local licensing teams across the UK routinely carry out compliance checks to ensure vehicles, drivers and operators meet licensing and public safety requirements. Breaches can lead to enforcement action ranging from warnings and penalty notices to licence review or suspension depending on the circumstances.
