New rules to be introduced by the Government to help reduce litter on Britain’s roads
The UK Government are to introduce new rules which will see drivers being fined for allowing litter to be thrown from their cars.
If a passenger throws litter from the car, the driver could face being fined for allowing the litter to be thrown out of the windows.
From April 2018, the maximum on-the-spot fine for dropping litter is going to increase from £80 to £150.
According to the Government, it costs the taxpayer nearly £800m every year to clear up litter from the roadside.
Drivers to be fined for allowing litter to be thrown from their cars by passengers © Copyright Walter Baxter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Under the new rules, the minimum fine will rise from the current £50 to £65, whilst the default fine will jump from £75 to £100.
In April, the Government published their very first Litter Strategy which claimed that councils found it hard to identify which person has thrown litter from the vehicle, so under the new rules, councils simply need to prove that the litter was thrown from the vehicle and the owner will be fined.
“Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside and taxpayers’ money is wasted cleaning it up,” said Environment minister Therese Coffey, who announced the new fines.
The new rules come after a public consultation in which over 85% of respondents welcomed increased fixed penalties for dropping litter.
President of the AA Edmund King, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for car litter louts. Their selfish actions spoil the landscape and put road workers lives at risk when they have to clear up the mess.”
The new fines should be in place by April 2018 following legislation at the end of this year, however the final decision will be subject to parliamentary approval.
Please click here to find out more about our car leasing services and fantastic deals, or call us today on 0800 311 8290.
