A man has claimed he was fined £250 for spitting after a leaf blew into his mouth in Lincolnshire.
Roy Marsh, 86, was given the financial penalty after the incident in Skegness earlier this year. He is now calling for “responsible” litter enforcement.
East Lindsey district council (ELDC) told the BBC the enforcement teams, who work on behalf of the authority, would “only approach individuals who have been seen committing environmental crime offences”.
The story emerged in a Facebook post by his daughter Jane Fitzpatrick.
She wrote: “Recently dad who has walking difficulties but does his best to walk every day around the boating lake, inhaled a small leaf that made him choke.
“Dad has severe asthma and a heart condition, he managed to cough up the leaf and spit it out. (just the leaf).
“He was immediately approached by the local enforcement officer who was incredibly rude to him told him he had violated the law by spitting and fined him £160 !!! Dad tried to explain but the guy wouldn’t listen, dad showed him the leaf and no spit but he still got fined £160 !!!!
“On another walk a week or so later, dad stopped to wipe his nose, and took a Hankey out of his pocket.
“Even before he could put his hankey back into his pocket he was tapped on the shoulder by another enforcement officer and asked what he had done with his tissue !!!! (so dad was being followed !!) the tissue was still in dad’s hand !”
Marsh claimed he was reprimanded as he stopped for a rest while walking across the South Parade car park in February.
He told the BBC: “As I was sitting there, a gale blew a big reed into my mouth. I spat it out and just as I got up to walk away two guys [enforcement officers] came up to me.”
He added: “It was all unnecessary and all out of proportion.”
A fine of £250 was issued and it was later reduced on appeal to £150, which Marsh paid.
ELDC said it closely monitored enforcement actions and patrols were “not targeted at any specific demographic” and are “not discriminatory”.
Councillor Martin Foster, the portfolio holder for operational services, said: “The council closely monitors data on enforcement actions, including those relating to such things as littering, fly-tipping and dog-related offences.
“Our ultimate aim is to invoke a change in behaviour and stop people committing environmental crime so residents and visitors can enjoy a clean and safe environment.”
