Council cracks down on motorists for littering

The council is using newly adopted enforcement powers to fine motorists for littering from the vehicles

A council has begun issuing £500 penalty notices to motorists captured in the act of throwing litter from their vehicles.

Buckinghamshire Council is using newly adopted civil enforcement powers as part of its wider For Bucks Sake anti-littering campaign.

It is one of the first authorities in England to implement the process, which is more streamlined and quicker than the criminal route to prosecution.

Cabinet member for environment, climate change and waste, Carl Jackson said: "We have a zero tolerance approach to littering of any kind in Buckinghamshire."

A driver was captured by dashcam throwing a water bottle from his window on the A418 in Bierton on 26 April

The new enforcement powers are covered under the terms of the Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018.

The regulations allow the council to issue a penalty notice to the registered keeper of a vehicle from which litter is thrown, regardless of who committed the act.

Buckinghamshire Council has issued three penalty notices under the legislation and in each case the maximum fine of £500 was given - and paid in full.

In April, a van driver was caught on roadside CCTV discarding litter from the passenger side footwell while parked on the A412 in Denham.

In the same month, a driver was caught by a dashcam throwing a water bottle from his window on the A418 in Bierton.

In May, a small sack of litter was captured by roadside CCTV being thrown from a moving vehicle on the A412 in Iver.

A van driver caught on roadside CCTV discarding litter from the passenger side footwell while parked on the A412 in Denham on 4 April

As part of the For Bucks Sake campaign to combat littering, drivers are asked to submit dashcam footage if they record evidence of littering from vehicles.

Submissions must clearly show the offence and the vehicle's registration number and the evidence can be uploaded on the council website.

Mr Jackson said: "I strongly encourage anyone who has footage of litter being dropped from a vehicle to send that video evidence to Buckinghamshire Council so we can identify the perpetrator and ensure they pay the penalty for their selfish and inconsiderate action."

The council said that all income from fines is ringfenced for environmental enforcement and street cleaning.