Hi, I just wanted to get your expertise to clarify an issue that has arisen for me. A very expensive one!
I was sitting with a friend in a car park at Supervalue having a cigarette whilst waiting on my sister and I did put the cigarette butt out the window.
Next thing a man popped to my window, obviously standing behind my car waiting for me to do it as he was there in an instant. He stood 2 foot away from my car and mumbled his name holding a little card and something else and I excused myself and asked him to repeat because I didn't know what he wanted.
He then just roared at me, you have littered under 1997 act and you are going to be fined €150 so give me your name. I said, " what, €150". I couldn't believe the amount. He muttered away still and then roared again, give me your address. So I said my address and he just said I will get the fine in the post and then ran off, literally!
We were left absolutely gobsmacked by his behaviour. He never even got my name so he basically that day fined my car for the offence. Plus he never asked me to get out and pick it up, which I did after he ran off anyway. Plus his manner was desperate and I was still left confused after he ran off. It was also in a private carpark.
I got the fine in the post the other day. It goes on about littering in public places etc. There is a minor public road visible a bit back from where I had the car parked through the throngs of over cars! Do I have any grounds at all to refuse to pay this large fine please?
I appreciate I was in the wrong though but something doesn't add up about it all.
I was sitting with a friend in a car park at Supervalue having a cigarette whilst waiting on my sister and I did put the cigarette butt out the window.
Next thing a man popped to my window, obviously standing behind my car waiting for me to do it as he was there in an instant. He stood 2 foot away from my car and mumbled his name holding a little card and something else and I excused myself and asked him to repeat because I didn't know what he wanted.
He then just roared at me, you have littered under 1997 act and you are going to be fined €150 so give me your name. I said, " what, €150". I couldn't believe the amount. He muttered away still and then roared again, give me your address. So I said my address and he just said I will get the fine in the post and then ran off, literally!
We were left absolutely gobsmacked by his behaviour. He never even got my name so he basically that day fined my car for the offence. Plus he never asked me to get out and pick it up, which I did after he ran off anyway. Plus his manner was desperate and I was still left confused after he ran off. It was also in a private carpark.
I got the fine in the post the other day. It goes on about littering in public places etc. There is a minor public road visible a bit back from where I had the car parked through the throngs of over cars! Do I have any grounds at all to refuse to pay this large fine please?
I appreciate I was in the wrong though but something doesn't add up about it all.