A new law being enforced across the UK will see car owners face a £75 fine if litter is thrown from their vehicle, even if someone else threw the litter out.
The law, which was already established in London but will now be enforced nationwide, could see car owners get littering fines even if they’re not with their vehicle when such incidents take place.
If someone (say a family member or friend) borrows a car from its owner and they or a passenger they have onboard is then caught throwing litter out of the car, then the owner could still be responsible for paying out.
The rule is being brought in nationwide as part of a new government strategy that aims to reduce litter in the country. The change has been made because councils were finding it hard to issue fines to those who litter from cars, since it’s often difficult to prove who exactly was responsible.
Since littering is a criminal offence, prosecution requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that an offence took place. However, by giving local councils the power to issue penalties to the vehicle’s owner if litter is seen being discarded from it, the “criminal standard of proof” is no longer required.
Reaction to the law change
Transport minister John Hayes said: “Litter on our roads is a major and costly problem to deal with. It makes our roads look messy, can threaten wildlife and even increase the risk of flooding by blocking drains.”
Hayes also revealed that he was working with Highways England to identify the worst litter hotspots on local road networks so they can be cleaned up.
A spokesman for the RAC, Simon Williams, said: “According to RAC research, one in four motorists feel the conditions of local and major roads are getting worse due to roadside litter, so moves to clamp down on motoring litter louts will be welcomed by law-abiding drivers.
“It is potentially a shrewd move from the Government to make the owner liable for a fine if anyone is spotted littering from a vehicle, as this might be more likely to bring about a positive change in behaviour.”
