Overview

• Parliament is considering giving transport bodies powers to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices for people vaping at bus stops, including open-air sites and shelters.
• Authorities would set charges up to £100, with non-payment potentially escalating to court fines of up to £1,000.
• The Department for Transport says guidance will tell operators to issue warnings first and use fines only if those are ignored.
• Transport for London does not currently issue instant fines for vaping, instead asking offenders to stop or leave and involving police only if necessary.
• FOI data cited by proponents show a 188% rise in TfL vaping complaints between 2022 and 2023, while vaping advocates and some politicians criticize the proposed powers as disproportionate.