Young driver made to pick up litter after cig butt drop

A YOUNG motorist who was caught throwing a cigarette out of his car window was made to regret it after police made him pick up litter in a notorious countryside layby.

The driver, who had not long passed his test, was initially noticed by officers from Mercia police safer neighbourhood team when he failed to use his indicators to turn at junctions, as well as drifting across lanes on Wednesday, September 1, said a police spokesman.

He then tossed a cigarette out of the car window and was pulled over by officers. They decided to give him a lesson he will never forget about the consequences of dropping litter when he was made to take part in a litter pick at a layby known for flytipping.

He was also issued with a notice warning if he does something similar again, he risked having his car seized.

A spokesman for the team said: “The young man, who had only just passed his driving test one month earlier, was told to attend a local police station in Hilton where he was challenged if his cigarette tossing skills had formed part of his recent driving lessons. He was then hit with a Section 59 Notice Warning under the Police Reform Act (2002).

“If the man is seen driving in the same manner in the next 12 months the car will be seized.”

The following day, on Thursday, September 2, the man was made to take part in a community litter pick, joining volunteers from South Derbyshire Litter Pickers to clean up rubbish left scattered across a countryside layby in Moor Lane, Swarkestone.

Officers have dubbed Moor Lane a “500-metre scrap and garbage lane of shame” after another recent build-up of rubbish.

Among the items dumped were construction waste, unwanted sanitary products and household items, including paddling pools, coffee machines, kitchen sinks and cuddly toys.

Officers added: “It was impossible not to notice a fresh mound of used wet wipes, cigarette butts and empty vodka bottles, as well as the overpowering stench of stale urine.”

Officers also explained to the extremely polite young motorist the devastating impact of rubbish being discarded in the countryside and its consequences on local wildlife, said a spokesman.

“This insight into the perils of unwanted refuse proved to be impactful and the young man stated that the refuge collecting experience had made him think twice about littering in the future,” said a police spokesman.