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(London) – There are a lot of random ways you can get fined while walking city streets. Littering rubbish, smoking in a place where you shouldn’t, having too loud a muffler, and really any other number of motor-vehicle-related offenses.
Earlier in October, Burcu Yesilyurt was preparing to board a bus in southwest London. Rather than take her hot coffee on the bus and risk spilling it, she poured it out into a nearby drain. But suddenly she was swarmed by three cops and given a fine. What the heck? Turns out, that was against the law.
Under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, dumping waste into street drains is prohibited, including liquids. The aim is to prevent land or water pollution. Yesilyurt was hit with the equivalent of a $200 fine!
Yesilyurt says she was shocked and left shaken by being approached in such a manner, calling the cops reaction “extreme” and “unfair.” Apparently the officers informed her she ought to have dumped the coffee into a trash can.
The incident has since gone viral on social media, with many agreeing the fine is “ridiculous.” The Richmond Council canceled the fine this week, citing the likelihood her appeal would be successful. Still, amid the backlash, the council insisted the fine was “justified.”
Yesilyurt says she feels relieved the fine has been waived. She also expressed a belief it’s likely few people know about the rule.
