Fines for Littering

5 replies

Anon1993 · 09/01/2019 08:03

Hi Mumsnet.

I honestly don’t think I’m being unreasonable here; but would be interested to see what you all think?

So where I live we have fines for littering; it’s quite a large fine: £100.

There was someone on my Facebook this morning complaining that they’d thrown a fag end on the floor, which they openly admit to doing, and they’d been fined. In the 20+ comments of people telling her not to pay; that they can’t enforce it (They can and will) and even telling her to say the officer had sexually assaulted her (I kid you not!)... not one person suggested that prehaps she shouldn’t have thrown the litter on the floor to begin with.

Aibu to just be appalled at this general, “it’s not my fault!” attitude that seems to be endemic now? These same people, next week, will be complaining that the council leave the streets in a mess!

OP posts:

MereDintofPandiculation · 09/01/2019 08:07

On social media the comments very often follow the first commentator, so just because 20/20 support the litterer, it doesn't mean her support is anything like that amongst the community as a whole.

Did you post in support of the fine? Sometimes it takes only one person to go against the grain to encourage a whole lot of other people to speak up.

Jackshouse · 09/01/2019 08:10

I thought you were going to complain that the council weren’t finding anyone. I am glad they are giving out fines.

I don’t understand the ‘fuck you’ attitude of I am happy to live in shit so all you should be happy to live in shit.

Hoppinggreen · 09/01/2019 08:14

There was one in our local paper complaining that she had been fined 3 times in 2 weeks for throwing fag ends on the floor -so stop bloody doing it!
There was also the incredible arsehole who was fined for throwing his KFC wrapper out of his window in the KFC carpark. 2 litter wardens gave him a fine as he did it right in front of them. Instead of paying it ( although he admitted he had done it) he got a solicitor involved and argued that the KFCcarpark was private land was private land and the wardens were working for the council so they had no right to fine him. He got off. Maybe he was technically right but what an utter knob for doing it in the first place and then not just saying, sorry and picking it up and paying the £50

5foot5 · 09/01/2019 08:16

I agree with you so long as the littering is clearly deliberate. In this case it was so the fine was deserved. I could understand the outrage if it was an obvious accident, e.g. Pulled a tissue out of their pocket while getting something else and didn't notice.

What do they do if the litter dropper is a child?

NewPapaGuinea · 09/01/2019 08:30

Incredible how many people don’t consider fag ends as litter. I know it’s a habit to flick it away, but they should work harder to break it.

Flip