What Happens if You Don’t Pay a Littering Fine in the UK?
Have you been handed a Fixed Penalty Notice for littering in the UK? Each month, over 32,000 visitors seek advice on this site about tickets and fines.
It’s normal to feel concerned and unsure. But don’t worry; we are here to help. In this article, we’ll guide you through:
- The meaning of a Fixed Penalty Notice for littering.
- Steps to challenge and possibly beat your fine.
- The UK’s laws on littering and the fines.
- The need to pay the fine and what happens if you don’t.
- Where to find more help if you need it.
We understand how it feels to receive a fine, and we’re here to help you understand how to handle it. Let’s get started!
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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What sort of fine do you get for littering?
You’d be given a Fixed Penalty Notice for littering in a public area. Sometimes it’s referred to as a littering fine. But either way, it can be an expensive decision to ignore a fine issued by one of the authorities.
That said, Fixed Penalty Notices are given for driving and traffic offences too!
Who issues littering fines?
Littering fines are issued by several authorities which include the following:
- Local councils/authorities
- The Police
- Environmental Enforcement Officers
- Community Support Officers
Plus, a few local councils encourage people in their district to report anyone who they see littering!
Is littering a crime in the UK?
Yes. It’s an offence to drop litter in a public place in the UK. The offence carries a fine of up to £150 which is the alternative to prosecution!
Plus, if you provide the wrong information to an enforcement officer, you could face serious legal action. In short, the law makes it a criminal offence to provide incorrect information when asked!
The police could get involved which could lead to an arrest and prosecution!
That said when you’re caught littering an enforcement officer has to let you know why you’ve been stopped. They must also tell you why they want your details!
What happens if you don’t pay litter fine?
If you don’t pay a Fixed Penalty Notice for a littering offence within the 28-day deadline, the case automatically goes to court.
You could end up having to pay up to a £2,500 fine plus court costs!
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
What if you ignore a littering fine?
It’s tempting to ignore any sort of fine but it could be an expensive decision if you do. For example, the initial Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for littering is £150 which could put a dent in your finances.
However, if you ignore the fine, the consequences are far-reaching and a lot more costly! Debt collectors or bailiffs could get involved!
You have two choices when you get an FPN. You can either appeal the fine by going to court, or you can pay it within 14 days and pay 50% less!
When you ignore a court summons, you could be held in ‘contempt of court’ and risk being arrested!
More fees are added to the fine and if bailiffs get involved, more costs are added to the amount you’d have to pay.
The extra fees and the chance of receiving a criminal record should put anyone off from ignoring a littering fine!
How do you appeal a littering fine?
You’d need to have good reason to appeal a littering fine. Plus, you’d have to go to court to do so because there are no formal grounds to appeal the fine.
In short, you have three options open to you which are:
- Get in touch with the relevant court, explain that you can’t afford to pay the fine and request that the FPN is cancelled. Or you offer to pay the fine in instalments
- Settle the fine within 14 days and pay the lower amount
- Take your case to court to dispute the fine
I strongly recommend that you seek legal advice before going down this route because if it goes wrong and you lose, it could get extremely expensive!
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How do you pay a littering fine?
Details on how to pay a littering fine can be found on the Fixed Penalty Notice you’re given.
The notice will also tell you how much you’d have to pay. If the FPN was issued by a local council, chances are there’s an online payment portal.
Once your payment is received, you should receive an email confirming you’ve paid the fine and no further action will be taken.
What happens if you can’t afford a littering fine?
In these difficult times, getting an FPN for littering can be stressful. If you’re struggling with your finances and you can’t afford to pay the fine, I suggest you:
- Contact the relevant court as soon as possible
- Provide the court with information on how much you can afford
- Offer to pay the fine within a reasonable amount of time
- Ask to pay the fine in instalments
Lastly, what happens if you don’t pay a littering fine in the UK?
The consequences of not paying a littering fine could leave you seriously out of pocket. Plus, you risk being arrested and receiving a criminal record for not responding to a court summons!
There are no formal grounds to appeal a littering fine either. You’d have to go to court and have a strong case to present for any hope of winning.
It’s far wiser to pay a littering fine within 14 days so you pay half the amount. In short, instead of forking out a whopping £150, you’d have to pay £75 which is still a lot.
But it’s a lot better than paying up to £2,500 for ignoring the fine.
Thanks for reading my post. I hope the info explains who not paying a littering fine could end up costing more than just money!
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