Council workers slapped a roofer with a £300 fine for keeping snack wrappers in his work van because he doesn’t have a licence to carry waste.
Stewart Gosling, 43, kept the stash of empty crisp packets and water bottles in a plastic commercial waste bag in the back of his white van.
But when he was pulled over by council workers carrying out spot checks, they told him he was breaking the law for carrying the rubbish without permission.
This is the kind of petty small-minded prodnosing that finally makes people realise just how out of hand things have become. It’s obvious to any rational person that he was simply keeping the rubbish until he could dispose of it. I do the same. We do not need a licence for this. So, protest.
He has tried to appeal the fine but has been told he will end up in court if he doesn’t pay the penalty issued at the roadside.
Well, yes, he is up against the dead hand of the state and such threats are how they get away with this over-zealous behaviour. I do realise that going to court carries a risk, but people need to do it. Unless these people get slapped down from upon high, nothing will change. So the appropriate response is; “see you in court”.
They searched his vehicle before asking him if he had a waste carriers’ licence – required by any business that transports commercial refuse.
It wasn’t commercial refuse, though, was it? So, let them argue that it was before a jury or magistrate.
Stewart could be prosecuted for failing to pay the penalty on time, but says he has no plans to settle the fine.
Good. Fight the bastards.
He added: ‘It seems a bit steep to be honest. A warning would have been more understandable.
Why? What have you done wrong? You buy some food and put the containers in a bag for later disposal and you need a licence?
A Waltham Forest Council spokesman said: ‘The waste in this case was being transported in commercial refuse bag in the trader’s vehicle.
‘Regardless of what the items are, if waste is being stored in a commercial refuse bag in a trader’s van it is necessary that they have a valid waste carriers’ license (sic).
‘It is widely recognised as best practice for tradesmen to be licensed to avoid legal repercussions, in the event they are required to transport even small quantities of waste.’
Bollocks, frankly. This is pure bureaucratic nonsense. Typical of the jumped-up petty minded jobsworth scum that now infest the public sector. The idea that having consumed a packet of crisps the packet now becomes commercial waste is utterly absurd.
So, let the court decide.
Then, perhaps, some rope and lamp posts.
Where are Wat Tyler’s descendants when you need them?
More pertinently, is what right did they have to stop and search his vehicle in the first place? Answer – absolutely bugger all.
Any judge with even a modicum of sense will throw this one out, and I were the judge I’d charge the council for bringing up vexatious charges.
That would be my first line of attack. Unless they have a police officer to do it for them, they have no right to stop anyone. That’s why the police are there for roadside censi. I would have flatly refuse to cooperate with them unless they had a police officer there.
And that was the roofers mistake – in the eyes of these bastards. If he had used a plain, unmarked bag, would they have still tried it on?
He should go to court and ask Waltham Forest Council if they are familiar with the term “They Work For Us”
Although, of course, the container is irrelevant – it was obvious from the content that this was never commercial waste, but for a jobsworth, it’s an opportunity.
There is always the option of extreme violence. In the end no one will want to be a vile pointless jobsworth because it is just too dangerous. Just a thought.
Before that, point blank refusal to cooperate. These people are not the police.
Do these odious, jobsworth bastards actually have the legal right to stop and search someone?
I’m pretty sure not. Only a uniformed police officer.
@LR
The elephant in the room is…
Blair era converting UK common law to EU Roman law – permission required to do anything.
Shameful fake Conservatives are happy with this.
If we ever get out of EU & have a PM Farage it may be resolved.
Roman law is an abomination.
What did the Romans ever do for us?
I dislike suggesting this, but the names of these jobsworths should be published. Not sure if this would be legal, but can’t see why not; they’re public officials, aren’t they? Anyway, no reason why their names shouldn’t appear on a blog in another country – that would be fun!
I’m patiently waiting for your piece on the annual “Amazon don’t pay enough tax” media feeding frenzy, Mr. Rider.
These shit for brains fools don’t go into a shop and offer to pay more than the asking price for their purchases. Amazon, on the other hand, should meet their legal tax obligations and then offer to pay a lot more so as not to provoke outrage in the minds of imbeciles.
I’ve been busy. This semi-retirement lark is hard work.
Yep, fake news.
As TW makes clear they pay More tax by giving profits to employees. One would think giving profits to employees would be favoured by Left – they like CoOp, John Lewis
This is the London Borough of What the Fuck ( Intials ) – they are all too capable of unbelievable stupidity.
I should know – I live there ……