Do not feed the birds

mkpdavies · 12-02-2007, 10:49 PM

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ES TOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=IPED29%20Dec%202006% 2012%3A06%3A28%3A730

Quote:

TEENAGER Jack Double will be starting the New Year £50 out of pocket and with a chip on his shoulder after being hit with a littering fine for throwing food to a seagull.

The gobsmacked youngster found himself slapped with the penalty by litter enforcement officers after he threw a bad-tasting chip to a bird in Ipswich's Chantry estate.

He said: “I'd got a bag of chips and bit in to one and it was really hard.

“When I looked at the other half it was really green so I just threw it to a seagull nearby.”

Council officers handed him a notice ordering him to pay a £50 fine - just weeks after they had given him a certificate commending him for regularly putting rubbish in the bin.

His mum Mandy said: “It's ridiculous! Are they going to go to Christchurch Park and fine everybody who feeds the ducks?”

Unbelievable. I hope he refused to pay.

Westcountryman · 12-02-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=News&tBrand=ES TOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=IPED29%20Dec%202006% 2012%3A06%3A28%3A730

Quote:

TEENAGER Jack Double will be starting the New Year £50 out of pocket and with a chip on his shoulder after being hit with a littering fine for throwing food to a seagull.

The gobsmacked youngster found himself slapped with the penalty by litter enforcement officers after he threw a bad-tasting chip to a bird in Ipswich's Chantry estate.

He said: “I'd got a bag of chips and bit in to one and it was really hard.

“When I looked at the other half it was really green so I just threw it to a seagull nearby.”

Council officers handed him a notice ordering him to pay a £50 fine - just weeks after they had given him a certificate commending him for regularly putting rubbish in the bin.

His mum Mandy said: “It's ridiculous! Are they going to go to Christchurch Park and fine everybody who feeds the ducks?”

Unbelievable. I hope he refused to pay.

As do I, as it'll get laughed out of Court.

Britannist · 13-02-2007, 07:12 AM

It was good of him, in my view, to feed the seagull.

I would have fed it, too.

22ANDUK · 13-02-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

litter enforcement officers

They come up with strange titles, always with the words 'Officers' in them too!

The title also seems to be bad English too, as 'litter enforcement' to me means forcing people to litter? :?

Feldoon · 13-02-2007, 02:02 PM

Eh, I would fight it.

I would quite clearly state that my intention was to feed the bird, not to litter.

Besoeker · 13-02-2007, 08:59 PM

It's quite an old "news" item but on the face of it, it does appear totally unreasonable. However, I wouldn't suggest taking it to court. All it needs to muddy the waters is for the litter enforcement officers to say that there was no seagull.

C_steam · 13-02-2007, 09:28 PM

Seagulls should be fed with alka-seltzer tablets wrapped in bread.

supposed to be an urban myth but I saw it once as a child, off the back of an IOW ferry. the airborn disease rats really do explode.

Sheila · 13-02-2007, 10:26 PM

It gets sillier - check out the follow-up stories

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/search/...hparam=seagull

.

Westcountryman · 14-02-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

It's quite an old "news" item but on the face of it, it does appear totally unreasonable. However, I wouldn't suggest taking it to court. All it needs to muddy the waters is for the litter enforcement officers to say that there was no seagull.

The council would have to take it to Court if he doesn't pay.

Besoeker · 14-02-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernUKIP

The council would have to take it to Court if he doesn't pay.

Wouldn't that be for the non-payment of the fine he owed rather than the nature of what he was fined for?

13-02-2007, 07:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,153	Fine for feeding seagull It was good of him, in my view, to feed the seagull. I would have fed it, too.

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13-02-2007, 02:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Feldoon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,003	Eh, I would fight it. I would quite clearly state that my intention was to feed the bird, not to litter.

13-02-2007, 08:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Besoeker Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,116	It's quite an old "news" item but on the face of it, it does appear totally unreasonable. However, I wouldn't suggest taking it to court. All it needs to muddy the waters is for the litter enforcement officers to say that there was no seagull.

13-02-2007, 09:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,964	Seagulls should be fed with alka-seltzer tablets wrapped in bread. supposed to be an urban myth but I saw it once as a child, off the back of an IOW ferry. the airborn disease rats really do explode.

13-02-2007, 10:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sheila Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 581	It gets sillier - check out the follow-up stories http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/search/...hparam=seagull .