From Sunday, smoking is banned in Beijing's taxis. The "Green Taxi" campaign is part of the city's efforts to ensure a smoke-free Olympic Games next year.
"No smoking" signs will be put up in all of Beijing's 66,000 taxis. Drivers who are caught smoking inside taxis will be fined up to 200 yuan, or about 27 US dollars. There is no punishment for passengers yet, but drivers will be responsible for persuading them not to smoke.
Cigarette smoke contains over 60 types of carcinogenic particles. These particles can become trapped in air-conditioners and are hard to remove from cars even with all the windows opened.
