Wiltshire Council issues £500 fines for littering from vehicles and warns penalties have increased

Wiltshire Council has issued two £500 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for littering from vehicles and is warning motorists that the fine for the offence increased to £750 on 1 September.

The council's Environmental Enforcement Team took action following two separate incidents where litter was thrown from vehicles.

In the first case, an individual was seen throwing rubbish from a passenger window. The incident was captured on dashcam footage and reported to Wiltshire Council. The video clearly showed litter being thrown from the vehicle and captured the vehicle’s registration number, enabling officers to investigate and issue a £500 fixed penalty notice.

In a second incident, two council enforcement officers witnessed litter being thrown from the passenger side of a vehicle while travelling behind it. Following an investigation, a further £500 fixed penalty notice was issued.

As fixed penalty notices are not court convictions, the drivers cannot be named. 

Littering continues to have a significant impact on Wiltshire's towns, villages, countryside and road network, creating environmental damage and avoidable clean-up costs. 

Under legislation introduced in 2018, councils can issue civil penalties to the registered keeper of a vehicle where litter is thrown from it, even if the individual responsible cannot be identified.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "Littering from vehicles is selfish, irresponsible and completely unacceptable. It blights our communities, harms wildlife and the environment, and leaves local taxpayers to pick up the bill for clearing it up.

"These cases show that if there is evidence, we will take action. Whether an offence is witnessed by our enforcement officers or captured on dashcam footage, vehicle keepers can be held responsible and face substantial financial penalties. 

"This forms part of our wider commitment to tackling environmental crime across Wiltshire. From September, we have increased penalties not only for littering from vehicles but also for fly-tipping and household waste duty of care offences, sending a clear message that we will not tolerate behaviour that damages our environment and local communities.

"We know many residents are as frustrated by roadside litter as we are, which is why we're making it easier for people to report incidents. With fines increased to £750, our message is simple: if you litter from a vehicle in Wiltshire, you could face a substantial financial penalty."

From 1 September, the penalty for littering from a vehicle increased from £500 to £750, bringing it in line with Wiltshire Council's standard littering fixed penalty notice. The increase has been introduced alongside a higher penalty for fly-tipping, reflecting the council's continued commitment to tackling environmental crime and keeping Wiltshire clean.

The council is also developing a dedicated Littering from Vehicles category within MyWilts, enabling residents to report incidents directly and upload dashcam footage to support investigations.

The new reporting process will make it quicker and easier for the public to submit evidence and help the council take enforcement action against offenders.

Anyone reporting an incident should, where possible, provide the vehicle registration number, date, time and location of the offence, along with any photographic or video evidence.

For more information about environmental enforcement and reporting littering offences, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/litter