Cigarette litter bugs fined by magistrates (From York Press)

Cigarette litter bugs fined by magistrates

9:38am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News

THREE smokers who dropped cigarette butts and refused to pick them up have been taken to court.

The three – who have not been named by City of York Council – received summonses to appear at York Magistrates’ Court on October 18 for litter offences.

Each person was offered the opportunity to deal with the offences by way of payment of a fixed penalty amounting to £75, or £50 if paid within ten days.

All chose not to accept the fixed penalty and were prosecuted for litter offences under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990.

Magistrates imposed fines ranging from £65 to £200 with costs payable to City of York Council ranging from £85 to £337.

Coun David Levene, cabinet member for the environment, said: “There is no excuse for anyone to drop litter.

“It damages the environment, attracts more litter and costs the authority and other landowners millions of pounds to clear up each year.”