Taxi driver fined for dropping McDonald's litter on A55https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/2498 ... ds-litter/A FLINTSHIRE taxi driver has been hit with a hefty court bill after throwing takeaway litter out of his window.
Harvey Clark, of Fron Road in Connah's Quay, was dealt with in his absence at Mold Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Jack Evans, prosecuting for Flintshire Council, told the court that on September 16 last year, a council enforcement officer received a report of a vehicle depositing litter on the McDonald's slip road on the A55.
The officer received a video of items - which appeared to be a McDonald's wrapper/bag and napkins - being thrown from the driver's side window at the location.
The vehicle itself was a Ford transporter minibus with a Flintshire licenced taxi plate.
Following investigations, the officer made contact with a local taxi firm, Direct Cars, and was given the details of Clark.
The enforcement officer spoke with the defendant a few days after the incident, and he admitted he had been the driver of the vehicle on the day of the offence.
He was issued a £75 fixed penalty notice, to be settled within 10 days.
And despite a reminder letter in October, it remains outstanding and unpaid - which is why Flintshire Council decided to prosecute.
Mr Clark told the Magistrates that littering is an offence of strict liability, meaning regardless of intent, a person is guilty if he or she drops or otherwise deposits litter in any place where the Environmental protection Act 1990 applies, such as the public highway.
As Clark did not attend the hearing, nothing was put forward in his defence.
The Magistrates fined him £220 and ordered him to pay an £88 victim surcharge, as well as £642 costs (to cover solicitor's fees and and the enforcement officer's work.)
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