Can I smoke on the train? Comprehensive answers

Tobacco smoking in the Russian Federation is regulated by the Federal Law. His number is 15-FZ. The law is designed to protect the health of citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke, as well as the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

More recently, smoking was not limited to long distance trains or trains. It was forbidden to smoke only in the toilet and in the cabin of the car. Tambour was a recognized place of smoking. But on 01.06.2014 the law was amended. Can I smoke now on trains?

The essence of the amendments

From the summer of 2014, smoking is completely prohibited in electric trains and in long distance trains. This need to be clarified by all who are interested in the question of whether it is possible to smoke on the train. In addition, now the ban extends to the premises of stations and stations.

Hope for a mistake

Can I smoke on the train? In spite of widespread explanatory work, this question is often asked by passengers. In Russia, a third of the population is smokers. Therefore, the essence of the law has not reached everyone yet. Rather, many still can not believe that such a law is actually adopted. It seems that citizens still hope that they have misunderstood something. Within two years after the amendment to the law came into force, the passengers asked again and again: "Can I smoke on a long-distance train?". The answer to this question is categorical and unequivocal: "It is impossible!".

Can I smoke in the train vestibule?

Smokers try to clarify this point, hoping for a saving loophole. After all, before the adoption of amendments, the secretly acknowledged status of the tambour chickens was considered unshakable. The answer is one: you can not!

Can I smoke on the train in the toilet?

Lovers of tobacco smoking panically seek a way to provide for themselves relative comfort on the road. But they should be understood once and for all: in a long-distance train you can not smoke - nowhere!

And at the bus stops?

Those who are interested in whether it is possible to smoke at train stops, the answer is positive. The Ministry of Internal Affairs commented to the Federal Law clearly: the rules prescribe that platforms are allowed to smoke, being at least 15 m from the station.

Interested in whether you can smoke on the train or at least close to it (during stops), you should pay attention to this condition: the ban on smoking does not apply to platforms and platforms, stopping places for long-distance trains, with the exception of places located from the entrance In the railway station at a distance of less than 15 m!

The committee of the State Duma, dealing with health issues, where the document was developed, explained that while smoking is not officially prohibited at public transport stops. The law does not set a prohibitive rule.

On the street while you can

Smoking in the street is also not prohibited. Streets and private citizens' apartments remain the only places where you can still smoke. But there are also limitations.

It is forbidden to smoke on playgrounds for children, gas stations, beaches, on the platforms of trains. And also nearby (less than 15 m) entrances to the railway and bus stations, air, sea and river ports, metro stations.

Anti-smoking law: history

The anti-smoking law, which excluded from the list of places where you can smoke, offices, entrances, hospitals, schools and universities, beaches, playgrounds, gas stations, a zone less than 15 m from bus stops, metro, stations and airports, came into effect on June 1, 2013- Th. A year later, by the amendments to the law, the government prohibited citizens from smoking in dormitories, hotels, catering establishments, covered markets and other shopping facilities, as well as in long-distance trains, in electric trains, ships, on suburban train platforms.

The prohibition of smoking is aimed at preserving the health of those who do not smoke, in particular children.

Resonance

Additions have stirred up the country's population more than international sanctions against the Russian Federation. It is difficult to find those who would remain indifferent to this law.

Delays

For passengers who can not do without cigarettes, the law provides for certain indulgences. For them, the owner of the infrastructure can be equipped with special places. However, the law of the owner does not oblige to equip such places. This can be its own commercial solution that improves the quality of passenger service.

Today, in no more than a million Russian cities at railway stations, special smoking areas are not equipped.

Punishment

Penalty for violation of the law:

• For citizens smoking in an unauthorized place is fraught with a fine of 500 to 1500 rubles;
• Officials for a similar violation can be fined for the amount of 10 thousand to 20 thousand rubles;
• Legal entities can pay the amount from 30 thousand to 60 thousand rubles;
• Smoking in children's playgrounds is punishable by a fine of 2-3 thousand rubles;
• Organizations that did not ensure compliance with the ban on smoking on their territory are fined for between 60,000 and 90,000 rubles;
• Organizations that did not ensure the existence of a sign on the prohibition of smoking - from 30 thousand to 60 thousand rubles;
• Organizations on whose territory the smoking room is illegally equipped - from 50 thousand to 80 thousand rubles.

Economic impact

In addition to prohibitive measures, the law also provides for the economic impact on smokers. Since January 2014, the country has seen a rise in excise taxes on tobacco products. Discounts for cigarettes are forbidden, donations of tobacco products during advertising campaigns are not allowed. It is forbidden to display tobacco products in films, radio and television programs, etc.

The law provides for

Those who are interested in whether you can smoke on the train, you should know:

• The law provides that in long-distance trains smokers should be caught and fined by police.
• On the platforms, places of stops of commuter trains for smokers should be watched by CCTV cameras.
• At the stations to ban smoking, passengers should be reminded by Russian Railways employees. From the platforms containers for cigarette butts are required to remove.
• Escorts must be on duty on trains. Police officers patrolling the convoy, upon detection of smoking passengers, prepare an administrative protocol. Employees of RZhD, who noticed violators, are obliged to inform policemen about this.
• A passenger who has noticed a smoking neighbor can notify the conductor about this. The brigade of the transport police accompanying the train should be called the conductor, who issues a fine.
• By the conductor, people who smoke on the train can not be detained, as the fact of smoking can not be fixed. If there is no police brigade on the train, it should be called from a nearby station.

Penalty and protocol

Lawyers say that police can only fine passengers who smoke. Plant them from the train they have no rights. You can land a passenger in case he is a hooligan and a rowdy. A smoker who receives a protocol on an administrative offense is required to pay a fine later. When the debtor is in arrears of fines of 10 thousand rubles. It can not be released abroad.

The Code of Administrative Offenses states: if the fine is not paid within 60 days, its amount increases threefold.

Criticism

For many, the anti-smoking law seems cruel. Doctors call nicotinic dependence not a blessed thing, but a disease. To forbid to the person to smoke in continuation of two-three days it is impossible, doctors speak, as it does not depend on his will.

Passengers on trains will smoke bypassing the law, finding for this all kinds of loopholes, experts say. Someone will quit smoking at a stop. Someone will pay the conductor, and she "will not notice" the smoker in the vestibule. Someone will smoke in the windowpane in the toilet, creating queues, or settles between the cars, at the risk of falling under a moving train.

Long-distance trains should be equipped with at least one room for smoking, - experts say. Only six months after the adoption of the law, the amount of fines for "illegal" smoking in the capital amounted to 6.5 million rubles. The number of Muscovites who have corrected the anti-smoking law is more than 30 thousand people.

Violation of democratic rights

Experts argue that the law infringed and limited the rights of citizens. In the society the opinion is formed that it is necessary to work not by bans, but by the cultivation of the culture of smoking. The approach of deputies is considered by many to be too radical and does not take into account the civil rights of those who are guilty only of being subject to pernicious habit.

The new law does not take into account such a concept as public consent, experts say. In a society where almost half of its members are smokers, consent is necessary, not bans. The fact that smoking made a super-forbidden fruit does not reduce the number of smokers. The law is problematic to absolute non-performance - this is the summary of specialists.

What are the results?

The totality and unexpectedness of the ban for Russian society turned out to be excessive. After the introduction of fines for smoking in trains, sales of RZD tickets have noticeably dropped. In general, the effect of the law, according to experts, is not effective. Many smokers from the vestibules moved to the toilets. At the same time, first of all, non-smoking passengers suffered. For a long time in the regions, the ban was not working at all: trying to bring smokers to justice, police officers faced a general resistance. Because of this, the authority of the policeman has fallen significantly.

Practice and ubiquitous abundance of butts indicate that the ban is ignored. In addition, it gives rise to many additional problems:

• Corruption is growing among RZD employees who take bribes for giving passengers the opportunity to smoke in a prohibited place;
• Passengers smoke secretly and throw out cigarette butts, frightened by the inspectors, in unauthorized places, which leads to fires;
• A lot of people go out to smoke on the platform, which creates a traumatic situation for the smokers themselves, as well as for other passengers;
• Smoking on the platform between wagons or in the toilet leaflet is fraught with accidents;
• The psychological condition of smokers worsens, which creates an unfavorable atmosphere and provokes conflicts.

And what about the neighbors?

Many are interested in whether it is possible to smoke in Belarusian trains. It is known from reliable sources that you can only pick up on the road to Belarus on a trip abroad. More recently, the vestibules of Belarusian trains were equipped with ashtrays, and passengers legally could smoke here. But not so long ago, the Rules of passenger transportation were amended: now you can smoke only in international trains, in places specially designed for this purpose.

On the way to Russia or Ukraine, one can smoke on the territory of Belarus, and after crossing the border. The same is true for trains to Lithuania, Poland and the countries of the former USSR. But on the train to Berlin smoking is allowed only in Poland and Belarus. Next, a bad habit is prohibited by the rules.

Follow the rules should conducters. In order to restore order, if necessary, police officers are called. For smoking in a train or other prohibited place in Belarus, a fine of 400 thousand undenominated rubles is required. In addition, they can take off the train.

About electronic analogues

The introduction of new bans caused citizens a completely reasonable question about how to deal with electronic analogues of tobacco? Do they apply restrictions? Can I smoke an electronic cigarette on the train?

Specialists note that in Russia electronic cigarettes are not considered to be tobacco products. They simulate the process of smoking, but they are made without using a tobacco leaf. Since electronic cigarettes are not tobacco products, their consumption and sale are not subject to restrictions. Use them in public places is allowed.

According to media reports, in January 2016, RZD trains legalized the smoking of electronic cigarettes right in the car. So in RZD the comfort of smoking passengers is ensured. The replacement of the classic cigarette with the evaporator of nicotine fluid is permitted in order to reduce the inconveniences of traveling in the train for tobacco smokers. In long-distance trains, electronic cigarettes are available from conductors. Disposable products (classical tobacco taste, three degrees of strength) cost 250 rubles. In retail stores their price is 100-150 rubles. An electronic cigarette can be bought from a conductor and lit up right in the car.

Conclusion

According to the results of research, fans of smoking after the adoption of legislative prohibitions in the Russian Federation has not diminished. Of course, it is unacceptable to poison the lives of non-smokers who are coming from everywhere with acrid smoke harmful to their health. But will the prohibitions help? This is doubtful. As an example, one could recall the inefficiency of adopting a "dry law".

Solving this problem requires a multifaceted approach. Favorable conditions on the road, as in general in life, must be created for all citizens, including for smokers.