Council warden fines (not parking)
Discussion
There's a couple of stories in today's Sun about people getting fined for 'dropping litter'.
Now I'm as much a fan of fining people wantonly dropping litter - but if the stories are to believed, one was a kid in a pram and one was someone dropping a slice of tomato out of a sandwich while he ate.
What recourse do the people have against these little hitlers, and how can someone make this fine stick? With parking tickets, cameras can be used to provide evidence of a static car... but with rubbish?!
Now I'm as much a fan of fining people wantonly dropping litter - but if the stories are to believed, one was a kid in a pram and one was someone dropping a slice of tomato out of a sandwich while he ate.
What recourse do the people have against these little hitlers, and how can someone make this fine stick? With parking tickets, cameras can be used to provide evidence of a static car... but with rubbish?!
puggit said:
What recourse do the people have against these little hitlers, and how can someone make this fine stick? With parking tickets, cameras can be used to provide evidence of a static car... but with rubbish?!
If I was ever "litter wardened" for I would take the opportunity to go to court about it. I would probably plead not guilty, say I was going to pick it up and call in the warden as a witness etc. I wouldn't win, but I would waste their time.
If I was ever at a loose end, I could be tempted to follow them round and warn people as well but I don't tend to have that kind of time to waste any more
I read the stories this morning.
Sixth form student eating a BLT sandwich when a piece of tomato falls out (biodegradable) just as a litter hitler walks round the corner.
The other is a 19 month old toddler, tosses an empty coke can from his pram that his dad had put in there, into a bush, the can can't be retrieved by the dad even though he tries (apparently) so he gets fined by a litter hitler.
I would suggest these are very border line litter dropping cases (they were always going to happen just a matter of time), the legislation should be aimed at serious and regular offenders, fly tipping and the like, not single slices of tomatoes, but hey its easy money for councils, and I'm sure the litter hitlers have targets to meet.
Sixth form student eating a BLT sandwich when a piece of tomato falls out (biodegradable) just as a litter hitler walks round the corner.
The other is a 19 month old toddler, tosses an empty coke can from his pram that his dad had put in there, into a bush, the can can't be retrieved by the dad even though he tries (apparently) so he gets fined by a litter hitler.
I would suggest these are very border line litter dropping cases (they were always going to happen just a matter of time), the legislation should be aimed at serious and regular offenders, fly tipping and the like, not single slices of tomatoes, but hey its easy money for councils, and I'm sure the litter hitlers have targets to meet.
I have to confess to being a little confused by the powers these people have or haven't got
Surely you don't have to 'accept' a fine they issue? If you just dropped it on the floor as they thrust it into your hand would you get another fine? Can they stop you just walking away? What stops you giving them a false name and address?, in fact do you have an obligation to supply these details?
Surely you don't have to 'accept' a fine they issue? If you just dropped it on the floor as they thrust it into your hand would you get another fine? Can they stop you just walking away? What stops you giving them a false name and address?, in fact do you have an obligation to supply these details?
Its a fixed penalty notice, having nver been served one I don't know how they work maybe one of the BiB can advise, they must surely get your name & address. Works in the same way as a parking ticket, pay within time £50, leave it too long £100, leave it even longer then the baliffs get involved and its big money alternatively you get your day in court. Can I suggest to everyone that they take a small concealed camcorder with them everywhere now to use as evidence in court incase you get stopped for breathing or farting.
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