
It has been an offence to smoke cigarettes in a ‘smoke-free place’ since the introduction of the Health Act 2006 - this includes a hackney or PHV when the driver is working or when using the vehicle in a personal capacity.
The data shows that out of the 103 FPNs issued to drivers by Liverpool City Council, between the 6th April 2024 and 5th April 2025:
• 77 were paid within 15 days, at a reduced rate of £30
• 16 were paid within 29 days, at a fine of £50
• 6 drivers summoned to court for not paying their fine within 29 days of the offence
Councils can set their own FPN fines for smoking in a licensed vehicle, but it must fall within the limits of set legislation.
Below is the list of UK Councils which have issued the highest number of FPNs to drivers smoking in their licensed vehicles:
• 103 - Liverpool City Council
• 66- North Somerset Council
• 48 - Birmingham City Council
• 39 - Calderdale MBC
• 32 - Mid Ulster DC
• 18 - Bradford City Council
• 14 - North Tyneside MBC
• 13 - Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon BC
• 11- Hart DC
• 7 - Knowsley MBC
Alternix alternative nicotine products, has shared the UK councils issuing the highest number of Fixed Penalty Notices for smoking in a licensed vehicle.
Commenting on the findings, David Philips at Alternix said:
“Second-hand smoke is a known killer, contributing to people developing lung cancer. It is encouraging to see that councils are taking action to enforce the law and ensure that members of the public can enjoy a smoke-free journey.”
“Some smokers may find it difficult to quit and effectively manage their withdrawal symptoms. For drivers who are struggling to quit smoking, nicotine pouches can provide a discreet smoke-free method of nicotine delivery, to ensure that you remain compliant with the law.”

Paul Duggan, 45, of Birkenhead, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after police seized Class A substances potentially worth over £100,000 from his home, including a kilo of cocaine.

Abdual Qadus of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, slammed the council, stating the department is "understaffed, it’s in chaos," and offers "horrendously low quality" service.

The crash occurred on Bordesley Green East in Stechford shortly before 6 pm. West Midlands Police confirmed they were called to the scene, and "two people were assessed at the scene for injuries."

Burnley Council is inviting views on proposed changes to its taxi licensing policy as part of a six-week public consultation. 

Figures covering Oct 1, 2024, to Sep 30, 2025, show the most frequent grounds for revocation were "motoring offences" e.g. speeding, drink/drug driving, using a mobile phone and driving without insurance.

London black cabs line up on Westminster Bridge offering free rides to veterans as part of poppy cabs service

The decision, communicated in a letter to London Assembly Member Elly Baker, has been met with disappointment and anger among drivers who say London’s PHV sector has reached breaking point

Lance Melville Percival, 64, who filmed himself raping a vulnerable woman over a five-year period during trips to her support services has been jailed for 12 and a half years.

The decision, made by the council’s general licensing committee, dictates that all newly licensed private hire and hackney carriages must carry card readers from December 2025.

The council had voted in June to block the fare rise, despite earlier proposals to increase the initial charge of a journey from £4.00 to £4.50 and the cost per additional 130 yards from 20p to 25p.

Until now, cabbies were only required to pass a test when first applying for a licence. The updated policy, which comes into force on 1 January 2026, means drivers will need to complete the test at every other licence re

Former Birmingham cabbie, Peter King, 72, has been convicted of 15 sex offences after preying on and grooming three girls as young as six in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Tariq Mahmood, of Blackburn, came face-to-face with his victim on a double-parked street in Darwen with neither driver willing to give way, leading to a tense stand-off.

Councillors in North East Lincolnshire have approved significant changes to local taxi licensing, including a slight increase in tariff rates and a doubling of the fee for passengers who soil a vehicle.

On Monday, October 27, Victor Whitham pleaded guilty to operating a private hire vehicle without a private hire operator's licence.

If implemented, the increase would be the first fare rise in three years and would see Exeter's rates become the most expensive in Devon.

The move signals potential tough competition for human drivers who have historically formed the backbone of the ride-hailing giant.

Taxi fare increases of up to 20 per cent approved by Midlothian councillors have been suspended after local operators filed an appeal with the UK Government Traffic Commissioner.

A dramatic moment in Clermiston has been captured on video showing a quick-thinking Edinburgh taxi driver stop a runaway delivery van as it sped down a residential street.

A report before the city’s transport meeting next Thursday asks councillors to look at opening up bus lanes to PHVs and calls for a review of all current bus gates.
