Litterbugs Set for Big Fines
2 minute read | January 23, 2018
Have you ever dropped litter out of a car? Maybe you’ve just finished a cigarette and you flick the remnants out of the window. If you’re one of those who use our roads as your own personal recycling bin, get ready to pay the piper.
From April 2018, the maximum fine for littering is set to increase from £80 to £150, with motorists also being liable if their passenger is caught littering.
The minimum penalty is also due to rise from £50 to £65, with the default fine increasing £25 from £75 to £100.
£800 million a year
The changes come on the back of a recent survey which revealed that 81% of people were angered by the levels of litter on our streets and in the countryside, with one in seven motorists admitting to throwing rubbish out of their cars. On average 200,000 sacks of litter are removed from England’s motorways and trunk roads each year, with the total cost of litter to taxpayers reaching £800 million a year, according to Whitehall figures.
Environmental minister Therese Coffey said:
“Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside and taxpayers’ money is wasted cleaning it up.
“Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is just as unacceptable as dropping it in the street and we will tackle this anti-social behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket.
“These new fines will make sure the perpetrators, not the local community, bear the cost of keeping our streets and roads clean.”
Edmund King has his say…
Edmund King, president of the AA, said:
“There is absolutely no excuse for car litter louts. Their selfish actions spoil the landscape and put road workers lives at risk when they have to clear up the mess.”
He added that 82% of drivers supported the increase with only 6% opposing the move. He said:
“It is not difficult for car occupants to bag their litter and bin it in the right place,”
Why not have your say?
What do you think of the fine increases? Too harsh, not enough? Should consistent offenders be forced to complete community service cleaning our streets? Let us know your thoughts across our social media platforms.
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