£50 fine for dropping cigarette end!

[Jase1982]

I am going to return to one of my original points and say that no one person should ever incur a fine because an adult should know not to litter. Doesn't matter whether it's a fag butt or a big plastic bag. litter is litter.

The fine is so high to deter people from ruining their respective city.

I do however agree that there should be a degree of common sense involved with the enforcing officer, but it's the law, and it's up to them how they individually enforce it.

[kennythecelt]

Originally Posted by GuidoT

Can everyone keep it civil please.

There is no need to personally attack each other.

Stay on topic without insults, if you cannot do this then please do not post.

Good call...................

Why not pass the whacky about and lets all chill!! (only kidding and not seriously recommended!!)

Remember CAGS strength which is each and every one of us. That is our common bond. Keep focussed and lets be cheery and supportive of each other.

[Zamzara]

Originally Posted by Jase1982

I am going to return to one of my original points and say that no one person should ever incur a fine because an adult should know not to litter. Doesn't matter whether it's a fag butt or a big plastic bag. litter is litter.

Actually I disagree. It's only quite recently that fag ends have been considered litter. Until a few years ago it was totally normal to put them out on the ground, the same way it is not considered litter to drop crumbs while eating a sandwich today.

This change in attitude is a good thing in my opinion as fag ends usually do stick around and accumulate, but as I said above it is a judgement call and not a purely factual matter.

[Weird Al Yankovic]

There appears to be no mitigating circumstances whatsoever.

As an ex-smoker, I'm sure others will agree, that there have been times where the fag has been smoked right near to the butt but(!) the fag then burns the finger and one will instinctively react and drop the fag on the floor.

As in the OP's actual case the Enforcement Officer will say I threw it on the floor as litter!

It really is the most ridiculous situation and, in my opinion, a joke.

What if this happened to a single mum with a baby and she is left with £10 or £20 to cope with after such a hefty fine?

It is incredible that this can happen in our democratic country in 2007.

[Akira181]

I'm not a smoker although I do have the occasional one with a drink but I see this fine to be a little out of order.

Even though they're "Litter Enforcement Officers" the only fines they seem to dish out are on fag ends. Why don't they find the teenagers that drop crisp packets and bottles and whatnot? Not only do they take longer to degrade, they're more of an eyesore and blow about the place.

What gets me with all of these fine giving wardens is that they get away with waiting outside pubs or train stations and watch for people dropping fag ends, especially in places where there's no bin without one of those ashtray's on top, as they work on commission iirc.

That said, it really ticks me off when people throw fags on the bin when there's a bin with an ashtray or fag box attached to a wall next to them. But when the pub doesn't have one of these outside, what are you expected to do?

One thing I've seen happen is when people don't use the ashtray on top of bins, they inadvertently set the bin on fire or that the ashtray gets so full, the wind just blows the majority of them onto the floor or into some passer-by.

Even though I don't smoke very often, the system annoys me and is a little flawed, but I see how it is needed. It wouldn't be so annoying if every fag and traffic warden you come across is so arrogant cause they're drunk on the little power they've been given

[buzby]

Originally Posted by Akira181

Even though they're "Litter Enforcement Officers" the only fines they seem to dish out are on fag ends. Why don't they find the teenagers that drop crisp packets and bottles and whatnot? Not only do they take longer to degrade, they're more of an eyesore and blow about the place.

They do. I just spend the morning following 2 of them in Sauchiehall Street earlier today. In 50 minutes they issued 8 tickets, all for littering - and it was all youngsters. Of the transgression I actually noticed, 3 were for throwing plastic bottles and fast-food cups onto the pedestrian precinct. In each case a litter bin was 10 metres away.

Can't help but feel they're doing the right thing...

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Originally Posted by buzby

They do. I just spend the morning following 2 of them in Sauchiehall Street earlier today. In 50 minutes they issued 8 tickets, all for littering - and it was all youngsters. Of the transgression I actually noticed, 3 were for throwing plastic bottles and fast-food cups onto the pedestrian precinct. In each case a litter bin was 10 metres away.

Can't help but feel they're doing the right thing...

I'd agree with this too.

But I can't help but be of the opinion that it is a bit harsh concerning fag ends. I've heard that throwing a chip on the floor will also be subject to a fine.
It's like something out of Stalin's Russia.

[kregrs]

Just one question. These Litter Enforcement Gestapo Officers, what powers do they actually have?

[Trojan1401]

A further tax on smoking, simple as that.

Be aware - Big Brother is watching !

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Originally Posted by Trojan1401

A further tax on smoking, simple as that.

Be aware - Big Brother is watching !

I agree. First the motorist now the smoker. It's just harsh, no mitigation can take place and it's a revenue raiser.

C'mon, what do we need to tackle in our society first for such a draconian law to be in place? Someone flicking a fag away or an old lady being battered for her £60 pension?

Shame on the powers that be.

[Trojan1401]

I agree, parking, speeding, litter fines et al, are all simply revenue raisers with little or no chance in mitigating the circumstances. All such fines are easy meat for the authorities as most people simply pay.
The only course of action the public have is not to pay such fines. If everyone stuck together then something would have to be done. However like me, most people are "too honest" and simply pay up - thta's why we are targeted.
As you say, real criminals who end up with a fine simply do not pay. Do the end up in jail, certainly not but I bet you or me would. They'd let out early the "granny basher" to make space for someone commiting the heinous crime of dropping a fag end or doing 80 on an mway and not paying the fine.

Rant over !

[TheAnalyst]

Interesting responses ...

Can I just make it clear that I actually am very careful not to drop litter.

I fully agree there's no excuse for throwing away food wrappers, fish and chip boxes, cans of pop and what have you and I never would however fag butts are a bit of a grey area in my opinion due to the fact that you could actually cause a fire if you put them in a bin, I honestly never actually considered putting out my fag end on the ground as littering.

I can tell you that being repromanded by "litter police", picking it up and putting it in a bin in front of a whole street full of people would have been embarassing enough that I'd not be doing it again in a hurry but there really was no need for the £50 fine.

[buzby]

Originally Posted by kregrs

Just one question. These Litter Enforcement Gestapo Officers, what powers do they actually have?

It is covered by the EPA - see this from the Glasgow Council's website;

Litter is a blight on the streets and open spaces in Glasgow and action is being taken by the Clean Glasgow Team to encourage all who live, work and play in the City to improve things.
Clean Glasgow Campaign.
Litter Wardens have recently been engaged to patrol Glasgow and their role is to issue fixed penalty notices (£50) in terms of the Environmental Protection Act to people who litter. This includes cigarette ends and chewing gum.

Our policy is to issue fixed penalty notices to all who are seen to litter the streets and open spaces of Glasgow and our wardens are under instruction to issue a fixed penalty notice even if the offender offers to pick up the litter. In the event of non payment the case will be referred to the procurator fiscal who will probably impose a higher fine or may take the matter to court where a fine of up to £2500 can be imposed.

[threeamp]

Why has no one answered kregrs's question, i would also like to know what powers these council employees have?

[threeamp]

By that i mean are you obliged to give your details to someone in an iffy uniform, do they have the right to detain you etc??

[postggj]

beat me to that question

what rights have these enforcement people have to your details
they are not police and to my knowledge not there powers
can you just walk away