Biker rows with litter warden over dropped cigarette box

A biker was involved in a furious row with a litter warden who had tried to fine him for accidentally dropping a ‘full’ packet of cigarettes on the ground.

The dramatic row, which happened in Floral Hall car park, Southport, Merseyside, was caught on video.

It begins with the biker confronting the warden and claiming he is being fined for dropping something on the floor. 

The warden replies: ‘I gave you time to pick it up and you didn’t.’  

A biker and a litter warden were involved in a furious bust-up in a row over a dropped packet of cigarettes in Southport, Merseyside

The warden tried to fine the biker, named online as motorcycle instructor Wayne Taylor, after he accidentally dropped cigarettes on the ground

The warden tried to fine the biker, named online as motorcycle instructor Wayne Taylor, after he accidentally dropped cigarettes on the ground

An incredulous Mr Taylor demands to know why he is being fined when he did not know he had dropped something. The warden replies: 'I gave you time to pick it up'

An incredulous Mr Taylor demands to know why he is being fined when he did not know he had dropped something. The warden replies: ‘I gave you time to pick it up’

The biker, incredulous, replies: ‘I didn’t even know it was there! It’s got 18 cigarettes in it, why would I drop it on the floor and leave it?’  

‘You can f*** off, you’re not getting any details off me pal.’ 

The warden, who works for Sefton Council, then radios his controller, and tell them he has been getting abuse after spotting the biker drop the cigarette packet.

He then adds, ‘the male made no attempt to pick it up’. The warden tells the controller the biker refuses to give his details, but the biker then asks him to ring the police.

The controller’s response cannot be picked up on the video, but the biker was handed a warning rather than a £75 fine. 

Wardens are told not to hand out fines for accidental littering, such as an item falling from someone’s pocket and they are advised to give people the chance to pick up their litter before fining them.

The biker becomes ever more infuriated and says, 'You can f*** off, you're not getting any details off me, pal'

The biker becomes ever more infuriated and says, ‘You can f*** off, you’re not getting any details off me, pal’

The warden the gets on the radio to his controller and tells them the biker is refusing to give any details. The biker then asks him to call the police

The warden the gets on the radio to his controller and tells them the biker is refusing to give any details. The biker then asks him to call the police

The controller's response cannot be picked up on the video and the video ends. It is unclear whether the biker was fined

The controller’s response cannot be picked up on the video and the video ends. It is unclear whether the biker was fined

If the person refuses to pick up the litter, they can then be fined. 

Wayne Taylor commented on Facebook to say he was the man in the video and the owner of Riverview Motorcycle Training. 

He added: ‘I just wish to thank Facebook users and previous students who have done their direct access and cbt training with me, for their ongoing support and understanding toward to the video. 

‘As all bikers know, litter is major danger on the roads, especially in this windy weather we are experiencing. 

‘We do nothing but promote the importance of road safety, hence why I am very passionate about being accused ‘wrongly’ for dropping litter in a public place.’ 

The incident happened at around 3pm on January 29 and the video has so far been viewed more than 250,000 times. 

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: ‘We are aware of an incident whereby a civil enforcement officer, employed by the councils enforcement contractor NSL Ltd, was verbally abused during the course of his day to day work.

‘A male was witnessed dropping a cigarette packet near to the Floral Hall in Southport on Monday, January 29 and when approached by the officer, became abusive.

‘A warning for littering was issued to the male at the scene.

‘We will not tolerate abusive behaviour to any of our officers. Littering is an issue that we take seriously and it is a civil enforcement officers job to make sure it doesn’t happen.

‘We would encourage everyone to understand the necessary job they do under often difficult circumstances.’ 

What are the laws on littering in the UK and how much can I be fined if caught? 

 Councils can slap litterbugs with fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for offences such as dropping rubbish, cigarette ends, fly-tipping, dog fouling and fly posting. 

When handing out an on the spot FPN, the warden must state the offence committed and the fine has to be paid withing 14 days.

Refusing to pay could see you prosecuted and taken to a magistrates court.

Wardens are told not to hand out fines for accidental littering, such as an item falling from someone’s pocket and they are advised to give people the chance to pick up their litter before fining them.

If the person refuses to pick up the litter, they can then be fined. 

 Fines used to range from £50 to £80 with a default level of £75.

But under new plans litterbugs could be hit with charges of £150. And drivers will be held responsible if their passengers throw litter out of the window. 

As it stands, officials had the difficult task of proving who threw the litter, meaning many got away with it.  

There is no formal way of appealing a fine but you can refuse to pay it – the case will then be taken to court and a magistrate will likely rule on it.

Source: www.gov.co.uk 



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