Littering Fine for Motorist in Stroud
Published: Thursday, 6 October, 2016
Mr Simon Frith of Kings Stanley was recently prosecuted by Stroud District Council for a littering offence at a hearing on Monday 3rd October, 2016 at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Frith was prosecuted for throwing a cigarette butt from the window of his vehicle onto Cainscross Road in Stroud on 23rd May 2016. This would normally lead to the council offering Mr Frith the opportunity to discharge his offence by payment of a Fixed Penalty Notice. However, this was the second time that he had been observed committing the same offence within four months and so, on this occasion, a prosecution was pursued.
Mr Frith failed to attend court and was convicted of the offence in his absence. Magistrates imposed a total penalty of £537, comprising a fine, council costs and a victim surcharge.
Councillor Simon Pickering, chair of Stroud District Council’s Environment Committee, said:
"Throwing cigarettes out of car windows is not cool. It is just plain disrespectful. This prosecution once again demonstrates Stroud District Council’s resolve to pursue that minority of irresponsible, out of touch people who insist on littering our towns and countryside."
Dave Jackson, Stroud District Council’s environmental protection manager, said:
"Throwing cigarettes out of car windows is plain, simple littering and where council officers are able to identify offenders, enforcement action will be taken to deal with the issue."