Hungry Driver Fined for Dumping Fast Food Rubbish

A LITTERBUG has been left with a £327 bill after being caught dumping a bag of rubbish from his car during a high profile Council crackdown on litter.

Sean Bramley, of Countrymans Way, Shepshed, was fined after a Charnwood Borough Council enforcement officer saw him chuck a McDonald’s bag from his car at the Epinal Way restaurant on July 6, 2011.

The offence was committed during the Council’s high profile Don’t Muck Around campaign which during the summer of 2011 successfully reduced incidents of car litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling throughout the borough.

Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Regulatory Services, said: “There was simply no excuse for this type of behaviour – especially during our Don’t Muck Around campaign.

“Not only was this customer near a litter bin when he dropped the bag but the restaurant was also displaying our campaign posters which warned people that they would be fined if they dropped litter from their cars.

“We take very seriously our responsibility to protect the environment and keep Charnwood clean, tidy and healthy for everyone.”

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard on December 16, 2011, how McDonald’s in Epinal Way had partnered with the Council for Don’t Muck Around to tackle litter dumped from the restaurant.

As part of the campaign, Council enforcement officers were carrying out surveillance in the restaurant car park and saw Bramley’s Audi parked just two metres away from a litter bin.

The officer saw the driver dump a bag of litter, namely a burger box, plastic spoons and McFlurry container and also saw litter thrown from the passenger side window. The car then drove off, leaving the litter strewn on the ground.

A fixed penalty notice was posted to Bramley who was the registered keeper of the vehicle. He failed to pay the £50 fine within 10 days or £80 within 14 days.

As a result, he was given two further warnings and was eventually prosecuted in court.

Bramley pleaded guilty to littering although told magistrates he was unable to get out of the car because he is disabled. But he accepted that his passenger could have disposed of the waste for both of them.

The court found in favour of the Council and Bramley was ordered to pay a £100 fine for the offence of littering, £212.21 Council costs and a £15 Victim Surcharge