Drivers Could Be Fined For Littering

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Drivers Could Be Fined For Littering

July 25, 2012

A Private Members Bill has been put forward in the House of Lords to put fines in place for drivers who throw litter from their car windows.

A recent survey has revealed that around 9 million car insurance holders threw rubbish from car windows in 2011 - costing local councils £863 million over 2010 and 2011.

The proposal, introduced by Lord Marlesford, wants to change the existing law so that fines can be imposed by local councils to the car owner if they fail to inform them who threw the rubbish from the vehicle.

Commenting on the proposal, Lord Marlesford stated:

"I want action, not words. So I am asking Parliament to do two things. First to deter people from littering from vehicles by making the vehicle owner pay a fixed penalty of £80, whoever has thrown the litter out of it.

"Second, to require local authorities, which spend over £800 million clearing up litter, to report each year to the public, whose money it is, how much they have spent on litter clearing contracts, with the names of the contractors and the roads for which they are responsible, and to certify that they are satisfied that the job has been done."

The proposal has been welcomed by "Stop The Drop" campaign manager Samantha Harding who said that people need to take responsibility for their own litter, adding that councils need an effective way to fine motorists who do litter - which is what the proposal offers.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/9406764/Car-owners-to-be-fined-if-litter-is-seen-being-thrown-out.html