Rejected petition Change the law. Give Local Authorities power to prosecute motorists littering from their cars.
There is currently no legislation in Wales that allows Local Authorities to prosecute drivers who throw litter. Cleaning litter from all roads is the responsibility of the Local Authority area through which the road runs. To clear litter, carriageways adjacent to verges have to be coned off for safety of workers. The cost runs into thousands of pounds, the money coming from the stretched budgets of each council. In England legislation exists to fine motorists considerable amounts for the offence.
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Littering from vehicles has become endemic in Wales. It is rare to drive along any road and not see items of litter. Not only are these unsightly, but they cause a major hazard for our rapidly diminishing wild life. Wales relies heavily on tourism, but when the gateways to our most beautiful areas such as Bannau Brycheiniog, and the Black Mountains are constantly covered in detritus it puts people off coming here, especially foreign visitors who come from countries where littering is virtually unheard of. We need the laws in place to act as a strong deterrent to littering.
Why was this petition rejected?
It did not collect enough signatures to be referred to the Petitions Committee.
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