By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A man from Hallam will be forced to pay more than $2000 after he was fined by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria for tossing a cigarette butt out of his car window.
While the initial fine for the action was only $607, after failing to appear at his court challenge the man will be required to pay the EPA’s $2000 legal costs as well.
The Ringwood Magistrate’s Court heard the man tossed his lit cigarette butt out of the window of his car on Wellington Road in Mulgrave about 6.15pm on 6 January 2016.
A witness to the incident reported the man to the EPA through the Report Litter App later the same evening.
The witness who reported the man to the EPA gave evidence in court that lead to the man being found in breach of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
EPA Acting Executive Director of Regulatory Practice and Strategy Lisa McLeod said this case highlights the importance of the community reporting litterers.
“We would like to thank that person for making a report to us,” she said.
“This case really reinforces the importance of community reporting in holding litterers to account.”
Ms McLeod also said appealing against a conviction is an important part of the litter reporting process.
“Everyone issued with a litter fine has the right to request that EPA review the matter or to have it determined in court, and on this occasion the infringement was upheld,” she said.
“Littering pollutes our roadsides, chokes our waterways and can threaten our wildlife.”
“Throwing lit cigarettes out your car window is a serious fire hazard, particularly in summer.”
The fine amounts for littering have increased from the start of the current financial year ranging from $311 for a small piece of rubbish or unlit cigarette up to $622 for a lit cigarette.
The EPA encourages people to report littering offences though its app, website or by phone and collect as many details as possible about who, where and when the littering occurs.
