About time someone got fined for this

[Scuttler]

I have to say as trivial as it may sound this is one of my pet hates.

I'm glad the guy was fined, why people think it's acceptable behaviour is beyond me. It's not as if they have nowhere else to dispose of it.

BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Driver fuming over cigarette fine

[StokieRIch]

My brother in law is a council worker type bloke. He has issued quite a few of these, although it is fag but tossing not for flicking ash that he has got people for.

£75 seems a bit steep like but i guess there is no real excuse when you see almost all ( or possibly all?) cars have ash trays.

[Richard Mason]

I work in a similar "area" and to be honest, I don't think fag ash is something you should be busting people for, it's insignificant as a pollutant, and is mainly silica and a bit of carbon. Actions like this are damaging to the credibility of the employing Council. Sounds like a jumped up little fascist in the making to me; these people are an embarrassment to their colleagues.

Cigarette butts are a different issue, they cause a major problem inurban stormwater and can finish up in the water and on beaches hundreds of miles away, there is some evidence that some fish will be injured by trying to eat them too. When we clean out our stormwater litter traps, we find literally thousands of cigarette butts.

Richard M.

[frosty the snowman]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

I have to say as trivial as it may sound this is one of my pet hates.

I'm glad the guy was fined, why people think it's acceptable behaviour is beyond me. It's not as if they have nowhere else to dispose of it.

BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Driver fuming over cigarette fine

I have to agree. And it's even worse when they can't even be bothered to put it out. That smoke is toxic! I would be fined for dropping a sweet wrapper so why shouldn't smokers be fined for dropping fag ends?

[Darren A]

Why on earth you are allowed to drive a car whilst you are effectively smoking a drug is beyond me in the first place! - But that's another thread, for another day

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

I work in a similar "area" and to be honest, I don't think fag ash is something you should be busting people for, it's insignificant as a pollutant, and is mainly silica and a bit of carbon. Actions like this are damaging to the credibility of the employing Council. Sounds like a jumped up little fascist in the making to me; these people are an embarrassment to their colleagues.

Cigarette butts are a different issue, they cause a major problem inurban stormwater and can finish up in the water and on beaches hundreds of miles away, there is some evidence that some fish will be injured by trying to eat them too. When we clean out our stormwater litter traps, we find literally thousands of cigarette butts.

Richard M.

Problem is that if you're willing to flick ash out of the car instead of using the ashtray, the likelihood is that the butt ends up being flicked out the window too.

[RonProwse]

This has made my day I'm glad that the guy got fined, I ride a M/C and i've lost count of the time this has happened to me, but if we hit traffic then its bye bye wing mirror.....

Dont they put ash trys in cars anymore? and would people say the same if it was crisp packets and mcdonalds packaging?

[turbanator]

Speaking as a reformed smoker, and probably therefore a bit of a zealot. I still don't think fining people for 'dripping' fag ash is a worthile use of council employees' time.
Fag butts, sweet wrapper etc are different, but where does it stop?
Do you fine people for flicking it (the ash, not the butt) on the pavement or in the gutter if ther are smoking while walking?
Does the fact that he was in a vehicle make a difference, whether it has ashtrays or not?

Chewing gum waste, cigarette butts and sweet wrappers are a lot more unsightly than invisible ash, and don't get me started on dog mess.

r
Paul

[John_C]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

I work in a similar "area" and to be honest, I don't think fag ash is something you should be busting people for, it's insignificant as a pollutant, and is mainly silica and a bit of carbon. Actions like this are damaging to the credibility of the employing Council. Sounds like a jumped up little fascist in the making to me; these people are an embarrassment to their colleagues.

Cigarette butts are a different issue, they cause a major problem inurban stormwater and can finish up in the water and on beaches hundreds of miles away, there is some evidence that some fish will be injured by trying to eat them too. When we clean out our stormwater litter traps, we find literally thousands of cigarette butts.

Richard M.

I ahve to agree,

If its just the ash then this is OTT. Im not a smoker so I have no axe to grind, but Im with you in thinking all this does is reinforce the poor public image of local gov'n.

[frosty the snowman]

Originally Posted by John_C

I ahve to agree,

If its just the ash then this is OTT. Im not a smoker so I have no axe to grind, but Im with you in thinking all this does is reinforce the poor public image of local gov'n.

You may be right. Machine gunning them would be much more effective although admittedly might be politically sensitive. Time for my medication I think. The veins in my temples are sticking up again...