BUS SPIES TO SMOKE-OUT CIGARETTES AND DRUGS

DUBLIN Bus are putting undercover staff on buses to smoke out passengers
who light-up illegally.

The company hopes these smoke spies will cut the increasing number of
passengers who regularly flaunt its no-smoking policy.

Smoking of both cigarettes and cannabis on buses is a problem for the
company, a spokesman said.

The number of offences has increased significantly in recent months. And
while Dublin Bus by-laws prohibit smoking on all buses, the legislation is
not helpful when it comes to prosecuting cases, as successful prosecutions
demand the incident be confirmed by a witness.

So now the company has begun placing 'plainclothes' staff on certain buses
to catch offenders. "Up until last year, we depended on customers complying
with the law and, to a large extent, they did," said the spokesman. But the
recent rise in offences has forced them to look at different ways of
enforcing the laws.

The company has taken five people to court in recent months and more cases
are pending. Those found guilty face fines up to Euro500 and/or three
months in prison.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael's health spokesman, Gay Mitchell, has expressed his
concern to the gardai that people will become afraid to use buses due to
the "widespread" smoking of drugs on board.