Apparently spitting out a wind-blown leaf is a real money maker. An "environmental crime" as it were.

http://people.com/man-fined-for-litt...mouth-11866538

Absolutely insane!!

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

They were not "Cops", they were [council] enforcement officers, not the same thing.

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

You can just ignore them, and walk away. They have very little powers.

Wow really??

Why do they bother anyone then,you would think everyone would walk off!! (Well this guy didnt)

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

The height of stupidity for disposing of a leaf from one's mouth, how much lower can this country go !

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

It’s the hi-vis vest and clip board syndrome.

They’re usually dressed to look like police, they’re not but people immediately think they have authority, when they’re usually private companies working for the council that get revenue from the penalty charges they issue.

Can they do anything if someone ends up not paying a ticket these people give them?

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

If you don’t give them your name and details, which you are not compelled to do, they can’t issue a ticket to you, for you to pay.

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

Sure about that ?

Online research would suggest otherwise.

Of course, they would need to confirm your identity some other way, and then report you to the police, note that most these days apparently wear body cams.

Re: British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?
 

I have to admit, majority of my knowledge of this is from online videos, of which I’ve watch many.

Though I would say, they have no powers to detain you. So you can just walk away. They can call the police, god luck, but they would need proof of the offence, and in what I’ve seen, much of it is only their observation not necessarily caught on camera.

They can record you but if they have no details… (we must resist digital ID!)

Bottom line is they’re opportunists, they want you to succumb to their faux powers, and usually any push back is not met with resistance as it’s not worth them fighting, just keep going after the weaker.

Very similar to fighting, or ignoring, Parking Notice Charge (not a Penalty Notice Charge), I’ve successfully batted two of these away and currently on my third.

Yes this is more like something that would be done in the US!! (Giving a fine for that)