Motorists who repeatedly break the law and accumulate 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period will be at risk of disqualification under new rules being considered by the Labour government. The proposal is part of the government's new 'Waste Crime Action Plan', which aims to crack down on waste criminals, from fly-tipping to large illegal waste sites.
Fly-Tipping Penalties
New fly-tipping rules will give those caught dumping rubbish illegally penalty points on their driving licence. Drivers who accumulate 12 or more points within three years face a potential ban. The plan targets a wide range of waste offences that blight neighbourhoods across the country.
Incident on M5 Emergency Route
The announcement comes as an oil tank, asbestos sheeting, and a sofa were among fly-tipped rubbish blocking an emergency access route to the M5 motorway in Devon. Emma Bazeley, National Highways maintenance service manager for the South West, said: "The items look like they've come from a house clearance and anyone who's paid a company to dispose of their rubbish appropriately may well recognise them."
She added: "If anyone does recognise the items, they can get in touch with us and we can notify the relevant authorities. It's totally irresponsible to do this, they've not only put ours and police operations at risk but it can pose a risk to wildlife and the environment and it's costly to remove. Clearing litter from our roads costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year, and it's a cost local authorities can ill afford."
Council Response
Councillor Josh Wright, Mid Devon District Council’s cabinet member for service delivery and continuous improvement, said: "It's incredibly frustrating to see fly-tipping on this scale, particularly somewhere so important. As well as harming the environment, it's costly to clear up and has caused disruption to an emergency access route which could have serious consequences if access is needed during an incident."
He urged: "Our teams are working with partners to get the site cleared as quickly and safely as possible. We'd ask anyone with information to come forward and remind people to always check anyone taking away waste is licensed to dispose of it properly."
