East London driver caught flicking ash before throwing cigarette out window fined £1,090
The culprit ignored council correspondence and it ended up costing him an awful lot
An East Londoner has bit hit with a fine of more than £1,000 after tossing a cigarette out of his car. The Romford resident, known only as Mr Farrow, was spotted by hawk-eyed environment officers flicking ash from his black Ford Fiesta on Longbridge Road, on February 27 this year.
Mr Farrow, of Carnation Close in Romford, was observed discarding a cigarette from his car while travelling along the street in Barking. Mr Farrow was found to be the registered keeper and officers managed to work out that he was driving at the time of the offence.
He was hit with a fixed penalty notice (FPN), which he failed to pay despite reminders. The council then kicked off legal proceedings.
The case was heard at Barkingside Magistrates Court on October 7 this year, and Mr Farrow was found guilty in absence. He was fined £150, ordered to pay £880 in costs to the council, and a £60 victim surcharge, totalling £1,090.
‘Littering is selfish’
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: "Littering is a selfish and avoidable act that blights our streets, no matter how big or small the offence is. We’re taking a firm stance against those who think they can ignore the rules. This outcome shows we will pursue offenders who fail to take responsibility for their actions."
What is an FPN?
An FPN is a fine issued for minor offenses like littering or parking violations, which means people are punished without court action. Paying the charge means responsibility has been absolved and most importantly it does not result in a criminal record.
But failure to pay by the deadline can lead to prosecution in court, resulting in a higher fine and even a criminal conviction.
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