Smoker vows to risk jail rather than pay litter fine.

[Ansel]

Would a non-smoker be as strong-willed to the point of being willing to go to jail?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-s...wales-15738159

[Ansel]

Get this: she would be allowed to smoke in jail...

[Ansel]

And get free education... and 3 square meals a day...

[lxskllr]

What's fly-tipping?

I'm neutral on the story. Litterers piss me off, but then so does the government. I'll give her credit for sticking to her principles, though they may be somewhat misplaced.

[EricHill78]

That's wrong she said shed picked it up..

"It's just a fag but they're making me feel like I'm a big criminal the way they're going after me. It's not like I've done a massive robbery or something."

Hey leave the gays out of it! Haha

[snusjus]

All cigarette filters should be biodegradable by now -- it's long overdue. It may cost a bit more to manufacture, but the burden cigarette butts have on the environment is enormous. I wouldn't be opposed to a law that mandates all cigarette filters be biodegradable.

[Crow]

I wouldn't be opposed to a law that mandates all cigarette filters be biodegradable.

[lxskllr]

Just ban filters altogether, and people can smoke like big boys :^D

[devilock76]

Just ban filters altogether, and people can smoke like big boys :^D

+1,000,000,000

It is like how they finally did away with the whole "light" BS. People want a certain amount of nicotine and they are going to get it, one way or another.

Ken

[GoVegan]

I am not so sure I buy this. I know that filters are not completely biodegradable but they do break down quite a bit. I know this because I have a relative that likes to use his front yard as his ashtray. I have seen filters from recent smokes but I really doubt they would even be recognizable after a few years in the elements. I do think smokers should pick up after themselves though.

[muddyfunkstar]

What's fly-tipping?

Illegal dumping, basically. Many councils here charge for removal of large or bulky waste, and many dumps are private and they charge too, so there's a problem with people driving their stuff to a remote, or not so remote spot, and dumping it "on the fly".

[pris]

Isn't the thing that she dropped it on the floor outside her house which she probably doesn't own? Which I assume is the same as dropping it in the street?

Reminds me of one of my dopey neighbours who got fined for parking on a yellow line outside his house and said 'you can't fine me for parking outside my house, I live here' :-)

[muddyfunkstar]

Isn't the thing that she dropped it on the floor outside her house which she probably doesn't own? Which I assume is the same as dropping it in the street?

Yeah, exactly that. Just because it was outside her own home doesn't stop it being public property and exempt from littering laws. This morning's Metro reported it as "dropped a butt on her own doorstep", which is pretty misleading.

I doubt even the most officious council jobsworth would fine someone for littering on their private property.