UAE law change aims to ban smoking with child in car

A Federal Law on tobacco control (No. 15 of 2009) is under review to stop adults smoking in the presence of children below the age of 12 in cars.

Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Director-General of Dubai Traffic Police told Emirates24|7 that traffic police regulations cover 150 violations in total, but none cover smoking in cars in the presence of children below 12 years.

The National Committee for Tobacco Control has now recommended a fine of Dh500 for first-time offenders and multiplying the value of the fine for repeat offenders.

Dr Wedad Maidoor, Chairman of the Committee on Tobacco Control, Ministry of Health, said the committee is finalising further regulations to govern tobacco and related products.

She stressed that the committee considers smoking in the presence of a child in a car as an offence similar to not wearing a seat belt or even jumping a red light.

The committee’s recommendations have been forwarded to the Ministry of Health and the UAE Health Minister after which they will be sent to the Cabinet for a final decision, Dr Maidoor said.

Image via Shutterstock

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