…Researched and contributed by Jack Sylva.
Terie Green has been ordered to pay a total of £1,483 for littering after she was seen by a council worker discarding a cigarette butt on the ground outside a supermarket.
She was initially issued with a penalty notice, but when she failed to pay, the local council took court action.
Green did not attend the hearing and was found guilty of littering in her absence.
She was ordered to pay a fine of £660, a further £559 in costs, and a £264 victim surcharge. The case was heard at Bristol magistrates’ court on 17 April.
Littering and the Environment
Discarded cigarette butts are a common form of litter that can harm the environment and take many years to decompose.’
The South Gloucestershire Council stated that anyone issued with a fixed penalty notice must pay their fine, or the matter will be brought before the courts.
Amie Copley of the council warned that cigarette butts can “blight our town centres and communities”, and called on people to dispose of them properly.
Commentary
This case highlights the issue of littering and its impact on the environment.
Cigarette butts are often seen as a minor form of litter, but they can have a significant impact on the environment.
The fact that the council took court action against Terie Green shows that they are taking the issue seriously.
However, some may argue that the fine of nearly £1,500 is excessive for dropping a single cigarette butt.
Nonetheless, it is important for people to dispose of litter properly to protect the environment and to avoid incurring fines or legal action.
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