Driver fuming over cigarette fine

Alan Joyce said he does not remember flicking the cigarette ash

A £75 fine has been given to a Dorset man for "dripping his cigarette" out of a car window.

Alan Joyce of Lower Parkstone, Poole, has said by "dripping" Poole Council must mean flicking his cigarette ash.

The retired 68-year-old said: "I am really annoyed - to me that is not worth being branded a litter bug."

Councillor Don Collier, who said he was unable to comment on individual cases, said: "The people of Poole won't tolerate littering."

Mr Joyce, a former carpenter, was served a fixed penalty notice which states he must pay the fine within 14 days or face court action.

It states that on 25 July a council officer had reason to believe Mr Joyce was "dripping his cigarette" from his car while driving along Sandbanks Road, Poole.

It is annoying when you see other things like chewing gum on the streets Alan Joyce

Mr Joyce plans to pay the fine but has said he will complain to the council.

He said: "I can't remember doing it, so I can't deny it.

"But it is annoying when you see other things like chewing gum on the streets and the litter left in my garden after Friday nights."

Councillor Don Collier said: "We take the issue of littering very seriously in Poole.

"Mr Joyce was issued a fixed penalty notice for littering his cigarette from his car, however due to an unfortunate human error there was a misspelling in the wording of the notice.

"We will be writing to Mr Joyce to clarify the reasons for the issuing of the penalty notice."