McDonald’s Mishap in Bugle: Driver Fined £150 for Passenger’s Littering

A driver has been handed a £150 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) after a passenger was caught dropping a McDonald’s bag and McFlurry cup out of their car in Bugle, near St Austell.

Incident Caught on CCTV

The offence, captured on CCTV, showed the car pulling in as a passenger stepped out and dropped the fast-food packaging while the car door was open. Moments later, the passenger was seen kicking the litter before returning to the vehicle.

Driver Unable to Identify Passenger

When Cornwall Council asked the driver to provide details of the passenger responsible, the driver claimed they could not recall who was in the car at the time. Under existing laws, local authorities can issue a penalty notice to the registered keeper of a vehicle if litter is thrown from it, regardless of who actually discards the rubbish.

Accountability and Fines

In this case, the registered keeper accepted liability and was fined £150.

Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change at Cornwall Council, commented:

“We will not tolerate littering of any kind and I hope this sets an example to others.

“Please put your rubbish in the bin or take it home with you. Cornwall is a beautiful part of the world and we want to keep it that way.”

This incident serves as a reminder that drivers are held accountable for littering offences linked to their vehicles, reinforcing Cornwall Council’s stance on keeping the region clean.