Thread: Small minded t**ts

I read this last night in my local freebie newspaper.........

http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/news...ing_ban_fines/

god was I wound up......there are drivers who kill on the road who get less than this.....someone in this politically correct country seems to have their priorities seriously wrong !!!!!

If I walk into a pub and people are smoking .....I have the right to stay in or walk out....its called the right to choose...

Whilst I agree with you, the law is the LAW!

But then I shouldn't have to choose whether to stay or not because people are smoking.
You want to smoke, go outside. Don't want to go outside, don't smoke.
Most people don't smoke - majority rules.

Yep.
If they let him off then where does it go from there?? Landlords allowing under age drinking because they feel a 17 year old should be able to drink alcohol??

And I bet a lot of his decision was based on the extra punters/cash he'd get in by allowing smoking.

Yep I with the others mate, it's a law. The smoking ban was the best thing Labour ever did for this country.

OK....I see your points.....but £10000 in fines ....and refusal to pay = 6 months in jail......shame they dont do the same sort of fines for drink drivers, drug pushers & muggers....

It's all means assessed. The more disposible income you have the more they fine you so it has an impact. No good setting a flat rate, as say, £300 would be a months rent for some people and just a good night out for others. So £10k in fines reflects the money he makes.
I got fined £80 (not going to go into what for) but if I'd had to pay 10 grand it would have literally ruined me. I'm living on my student overdraft limit as it is...

The prison time on the other hand will be a set term, same for everybody.

Originally Posted by Keeno

I got fined £80 (not going to go into what for)

Oh go on, you know you want to :-)

His wife, Denise Hogan, who is the landlady at The Swan With Two Necks in Chorley, said after the hearing: “He has not hurt anyone or robbed a bank. I feel lost for words that he has been sent to prison for letting someone smoke a cigarette.

She's totally missed the point - he was jailed for non-payment of fines, the original offence has no bearing on him being sent to prison. He was fined in Jan 2008 and in over two years hasn't paid - what did he expect was going to happen....?

When Bolton Council brought the prosecution he pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to prevent people from smoking in his pubs and four of obstructing council officers.

I'd bet that he was warned, and warned again several times before they brought any prosecution. I imagine it was only after he had bee told and kept ignoring the law that he was prosecuted. Only got himself to blame in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Staz

The smoking ban was the best thing Labour ever did for this country.

I agree with that, but I've never smoked. But it's certainly nice for non-smokers to be able to enjoy their nights out too now.

Originally Posted by JohnboyC

but £10000 in fines ....and refusal to pay = 6 months in jail......shame they dont do the same sort of fines for drink drivers, drug pushers & muggers....

I imagine the same would happen if they refused to pay their fines too.

I used to smoke and quit just over 2 years ago now, when i walk into a pub now, i enjoy being able to smell no smoke as i now understand how much the smoke stenches. I think it is a good idea to bring the public house smoking ban in, However, I dont think an instant on the spot fine is really that necessary for dropping a cigarette dimp on the floor when someone who shoplifts gets a lesser fine?? I think if you were to look at the different parts of the law, there is a different opinion for each one and that being said some being way out of correctiveness to some being bang on......."My opinion only"