British Cops Fine Elderly Man For Choking On Leaf?

[Dude111]

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!!

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

[Pierre]

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

[Dude111]

Wow really??

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

[VX1953]

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

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Dude111

Wow really??

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

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.

[Dude111]

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

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Dude111

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

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.

Originally Posted by Pierre

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.

Sure about that ?

Online research would suggest otherwise.

Yes, you must give your full name and address to an Environmental Enforcement Officer if they suspect you've committed an environmental offense (like littering or fly-tipping) and are issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), as refusing or giving false details is a criminal offense under the Environmental Protection Act

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.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Paul

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.

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.