
People who neglected to pay on the spot fines for dropping litter in Bradford have been taught an expensive lesson.
Since July this year private Enforcement Officers have been operating in Bradford, handing out £80 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to people who drop litter – including cigarette ends and chewing gum and spitting – or allow their dogs to foul.
While many people subsequently paid the £80, others ignored the demand and ended up being taken to court by Bradford Council.
Last week Bradford magistrates imposed a total of £12,296 in fines with £9,440 costs on 55 people who had failed to pay the £80 FPN and pleaded guilty by post to dropping litter.
This works out of an average of more than £395 each. As well as the fine, each convicted defendant has also ended up with a criminal record against their name.