Local government fines

jenny4545

I was recently travelling by train from Loewstoft to Birmingham with a 20minute stop over in Peterborough. When I got off the train in Peterborough I went outside of the station for a cigarette when i finished i looked for a rubbish bin to put my cigaretteend in but there were none available. When i re-entered the station a young man came up to me and told me that Ptereborout has a zero policy regarding smokers and issued me with a fine. I pointed out to him that there were no signs informing people of this, no signs showing where the smoking area was and no rubbish bins to use. I believe that the wardens are targeting strangers of which there were many that morning. Do i have to pay this fine.

sarahg1969

You are entitled to a magistrates court hearing if you do not wish to accept the penalty from the council. However, as you did litter, I don't know what your defence would be. If you lost (which you would, as I can see no defence from your OP), then you would pay a fine (probably larger than the original penalty), costs and a victim surcharge.

It's up to you.

Hopefully, you have learned a lesson, however.

You seem surprised - is littering acceptable in Lowestoft?

Halloway

sarahg1969 wrote: »

You seem surprised - is littering acceptable in Lowestoft?

Not only acceptable; obligatory.

OP, you carefully omit the fact that you threw your cigarette end away in a public space. I assume you got fined for littering? You don't make it clear.

I'd throw your question back at you: why shouldn't you pay the fine for your antisocial behaviour?

jenny4545

You are quite right Halloway i did not make myself clear. I was not fined for littering as i would have expected but fined for smoking

geordieracer

jenny4545 wrote: »

You are quite right Halloway i did not make myself clear. I was not fined for littering as i would have expected but fined for smoking

are you aware that the smoking ban applies to all covered and uncovered areas of 'station property' ?

this could be why they fined you.

sarahg1969

jenny4545 wrote: »

You are quite right Halloway i did not make myself clear. I was not fined for littering as i would have expected but fined for smoking

OK, thanks for clarifying. It was not littering, but smoking.

However, the advice remains the same, I'm afraid.

Halloway

jenny4545 wrote: »

You are quite right Halloway i did not make myself clear. I was not fined for littering as i would have expected but fined for smoking

OK. Smoking is forbidden in all areas of railway stations, whether covered or not. Although I have to say that the railway station in my town also houses a taxi office and they puff away merrily in there. Still, they are none too bright...

geordieracer

Halloway wrote: »

OK. Smoking is forbidden in all areas of railway stations, whether covered or not. Although I have to say that the railway station in my town also houses a taxi office and they puff away merrily in there. Still, they are none too bright...

you should grass them up!!:beer:

xocbc

Silly question, but why would you give an officious council moron your correct name and address in this situation?

pinkshoes

But the OP says they went OUTSIDE the station, and if there are no signs up saying no smoking OUTSIDE the station, then how was the OP to know?

Most stations don't allow smoking within the station/on platforms etc... but once you step outside the main door, you can smoke.

jenny4545, did you take any photos of the area, proving that there were no signs? Did you ask this man to show you the no smoking sign?