Scotland | Stub out that fag or get a £50 fine

[jrobertson]

edinburghnews.scotsman.com - Edinburgh Evening News - 19-Aug-09

Stub out that fag or get a £50 fine (http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Stub-out-that-fag-or.5566584.jp)


By GARETH EDWARDS

ANYONE caught dropping a cigarette butt or chewing gum in the city centre will be hit with an instant £50 fine under a new crackdown.

Edinburgh's litter meanies, who may have previously only issued warnings, have been given new "get tough" orders in a bid to clean up the city.

Read more (http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Stub-out-that-fag-or.5566584.jp)

[BarkingDogATLAS]

Do they have a new army of litter police? Who is going to enforce this?

[fredblog]

Do they have a new army of litter police? Who is going to enforce this?

In a word YES!

I was in Perth a few weeks back and a receipt flew out of my bad without my knowledge. Next thing you know is we are being ordered to pick up or get a £50. What really got me is I am not a little bug and take all my litter home or bin. This came out of a small hole int he bag and we didn't see but still we would have been slipped with a hefty fine for littering!

And the fag butt throwers......they won't ever get caught will they, too much in taxes involved to upset them too much!

[BarkingDogATLAS]

I can imagine this:

"Hey, why are you following me?"

"I'm watching you smoke to see if you ditch your butt on the street."

"You can't just follow people around in hopes of catching them litter."

"Yes, I can."

[fredblog]

That's a little too polite BDA

"Hey, why are you following me?"

"because I can!"

"You can't just follow people around in hopes of catching them litter."

"I just did, see my badge."

The one that approached me on the accidental litter words were

'PICK IT UP!'

me; 'I am sorry pick what up?'

her; 'the litter you just dropped'

me; 'I am sorry I hadn't realise I had'

her; 'Well you did so pick it up or a £50 fine' and proceeds to show her badge

The tone aggressive, which worsened on hearing my non Scottish accent. No realisation that a) we knew nothing about it or b) I was disabled and may find bending difficult or c) I was trying to control a disabled child who was getting frustrated.

No we were instantly branded litter bug scum!