Litter's No Laughing Matter
15 February 2007
Comedian and writer Dave Gorman has hit out at litter louts, saying it's "one of those things that annoys the hell out of me."
The star of The Dave Gorman Collection TV series and author of number one best seller Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure, told the Independent newspaper this week that he nearly got into a fight over litter. He said "this guy dropped a kebab out of his car window on to the street. I put it back through the window of his car. He was so shocked he didn?t know quite what to do."
Keep Britain Tidy is pleased that Dave Gorman hates litter as much as we do, although we do ask the public not to approach someone you see dropping litter as you may put your personal safety at risk. Most local authorities have trained litter wardens to deal with litter louts - so you don't have to.
But what do you think? Would you approach someone you'd just seen dropping litter and ask them to pick it up? Vote in our poll now.
Half eaten kebabs, chip wrappers and other rubbish dumped on our streets costs council tax payers £500 million a year to clean up. Litter attracts rats and looks disgusting, making an area look run down and uncared for.
People throw rubbish from their cars because they think no one can see them - but they're wrong! As Dave Gorman's story shows. Plus many people in cars have been fined for littering out of their vehicle windows.
You can be given a fixed penalty notice of up to £80 if caught dropping litter. If you refuse to pay you will be taken to court. That's what happened to Coventry woman Michelle Timms in January 2007. She refused to pay an initial fine of £75 for allegedly throwing a crisp packet out of her car. The local authority took her to court and she was found guilty and ordered to pay £100 fine and £100 costs.
Last year, an Oldham man was fined by Magistrates £100 with £110 costs for allegedly launching a cigarette end out of his vehicle.
Fiona Campbell, Director of Keep Britain Tidy said £Fines, coupled with education campaigns for the public are a good way to deter people from littering. Research shows that those who have been caught and fined have not littered again. Ideally, we don't want anyone to be fined - we want everyone to use a bin or take their litter home with them."