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Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN)
TEST: Article
If you drop litter or let your dog foul, you might be issued with a FPN. Find out when a FPN may be issued and how you can pay the fine.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What is a fixed penalty notice?
- Information about appealing a fixed penalty notice
- A summary of fixed penalty notices issued by Colchester Borough Council
Have you been issued an FPN? Please call 01206 282700 to pay it
What is a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)?
An FPN is a fine that is issued to someone who has committed an environmental offence. The FPN basically offers an opportunity to waive a prosecution in court by paying a much smaller penalty fee.
If you are caught by either one of our Community Wardens or a resident who can provide sufficient evidence of you doing one of the following then we are required by law to issue you with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN):
Dog fouling
Littering (including throwing litter out of vehicles)
Taking trade waste (rubbish that you have accumulated from your business) to a tip for residents.
Fly tipping
Distributing or leaving leaflets somewhere without consent
Abandoning your vehicle somewhere
Repairing vehicles on a road
Smoking in a smoke-free place
Graffiti
If a child is caught doing one of the above, the action we take will depend on their age.
People under the age of 16 cannot be given an FPN
People between the ages of 16 and 17, where they are caught committing an offence, can be given an FPN if a parent or a guardian is present.
Appeals
There is no process of appeal with a FPN. You can decide not to pay it but then the case will be brought before a Magistrate's Court for prosecution.
All the offences mentioned above will carry a criminal conviction and a fine that could be significantly greater than the FPN. If found guilty by a court, this fine will not exceed Level 4 on the Standard Scale which is currently set at £2,500.00.
In the case of littering/dog fouling, the absence of a litter/dog waste bin is not a reasonable defence against the offence.
Fixed Penalty Notices issued by Colchester Borough Council:
| Year | Fixed Penalty Littering | Fixed Penalty Dog Fouling | Abandoned Vehicles | Fixed Penalty Fly Tipping | Fines imposed by Court |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016 | 39 | 14 | 0 | N/A | £2,985.00 |
| 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017 | 41 | 3 | 4 | 7 | £1,458.00 |
| 1 April 2017 - 1 Oct 2017 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 53 | £1,617.50 |