Smokers fined

BICESTER: Two smokers have been fined £400 after dropping cigarette butts.

Christopher Ahlgram, of Cox’s Lane, Enstone, and Michelle Laurie, of Hawksmead, Bicester, were fined £75 but neither paid the fines. Cherwell District Council took the matter to court. After failing to turn up for a hearing last Friday, they were both fined £200, ordered to pay £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Related links

Comments(17)

snert says...
10:28am Fri 11 May 12

Because smokers are the scourge of our society and need to be punished heavily. I've never seen anyone get fined for litter dropping so why single out smokers? It's not like the cigarette butts will last as long as plastic bottles and crisps bags, not to mention kebab containers that people drop all the time?

What a waste of money taking them to court. CDC, well done.

snert says...
10:30am Fri 11 May 12

Oh, and jsut for the record... have you seen what happens to plastic bins when a lit cigarette is put in them? Do they put them in their pockets?

Chewing gum is far worse on the pavements that a cigarette butt. I don't see those people being fined!

John Lamb says...
10:58am Fri 11 May 12

Two very ignorant posts above. If you don't know what to do with a cigarette butt - ask an adult or don't smoke.

Major Oxford says...
11:25am Fri 11 May 12

great serves them right

Dilligaf2010 says...
11:28am Fri 11 May 12

You get fined less for smoking weed, what's the crack?

snert says...
11:29am Fri 11 May 12

They are not ignorant posts. If you don't know what to do with drinks bottles or food wrappers are you suggesting we don't eat and drink?

An adult has a legal right to smoke if they wish. Smokers have to go outside, something I am in favour of myself.

Noone has the right to drop litter as it is an offence unyet you don't see the police acting on it at any other time.

MadMan-JaYmZ says...
3:35pm Fri 11 May 12

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
You get fined less for smoking weed, what's the crack?
I don't think you read the report properly. They was both given £75 fines, and because they never paid them they increased.

If they would have payed when they had the chance, it would have been £75 not £390.

snert says...
3:42pm Fri 11 May 12

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
Dilligaf2010 wrote:
You get fined less for smoking weed, what's the crack?
I don't think you read the report properly. They was both given £75 fines, and because they never paid them they increased.

If they would have payed when they had the chance, it would have been £75 not £390.
And people do get fined less than £75 for a lot more than that. The old Scales of Justice each week shows the leniency of some punishments.

jellyface2 says...
9:43pm Fri 11 May 12

MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
Dilligaf2010 wrote:
You get fined less for smoking weed, what's the crack?
I don't think you read the report properly. They was both given £75 fines, and because they never paid them they increased.

If they would have payed when they had the chance, it would have been £75 not £390.
Where do you get £390 from. Add up the numbers,it's £315?!

Dilligaf2010 says...
10:30pm Fri 11 May 12

jellyface2 wrote:
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:
Dilligaf2010 wrote:
You get fined less for smoking weed, what's the crack?
I don't think you read the report properly. They was both given £75 fines, and because they never paid them they increased.

If they would have payed when they had the chance, it would have been £75 not £390.
Where do you get £390 from. Add up the numbers,it's £315?!
I'm guessing he added on the original fine ;)

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
12:27am Sat 12 May 12

It is a shame that those brave council officials are not outside Kebab Kid now, as they would make a fortune in the litter fines they hand out. But silly me, they are in their beds quaking at the thought.

davyboy says...
10:41am Sat 12 May 12

although i agree with the fines in principal, why should it be just smokers who get picked on? all litter droppers should get the same treatment. however, these two shot themselves in the foot by not paying the original fines. if you drop litter and get caught, accept the fine and learn from it. if there was less litter on the streets, our council taxes could be spent on better things.

snert says...
10:03am Mon 14 May 12

davyboy wrote:
although i agree with the fines in principal, why should it be just smokers who get picked on? all litter droppers should get the same treatment. however, these two shot themselves in the foot by not paying the original fines. if you drop litter and get caught, accept the fine and learn from it. if there was less litter on the streets, our council taxes could be spent on better things.
Absolutely. In fairness the majority of bins have a stubber at the top to put cigarettes out with but it is still an easy thing to put a lit cigarette into a bin full of rubbish.

Dropping litter is a lazy thing to do, but my initial point is that this seems to be another stab of the smokers.

steve1955 says...
2:27pm Mon 14 May 12

And the fine for waste bins in laybyes not being emptied is?
A while ago a councillor wanted to stop a bicester shop owner from placing an avertising sign on the pavement any more news on that,and why has no councillor complained about estate agents signs on the bicester ring road?

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
4:16pm Mon 14 May 12

steve1955 wrote:
And the fine for waste bins in laybyes not being emptied is?
A while ago a councillor wanted to stop a bicester shop owner from placing an avertising sign on the pavement any more news on that,and why has no councillor complained about estate agents signs on the bicester ring road?
because it is easier to give a middle class smoker who won't fight back, and has not got the resources anyway, a quick ticket.

jellyface2 says...
6:12pm Mon 14 May 12

Who says they wont fight back? I dont blame smokers if they do i have watched the street wardens pounce on smokers,but not other people that litter. They also claim there is a cigarette bin every 20 yards through town which is a lie there are none through crown walk?

Severian says...
12:58pm Sun 20 May 12

I don

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree