A woman from the UK’s Bournemouth, who put an IKEA cabinet outside her home, offering it for free to any passerby, got the shock of her life when she was fined £500 (Rs 55,571.20) for fly-tipping.
Isabelle Pepin, a graphic designer and artist, was left “very surprised” upon receiving a substantial penalty for fly-tipping after placing a cabinet outside her residence for others to take, Independent reported.
The cabinet, which had been used to store her son’s toys, was left against her front wall.
According to Pepin, a council officer approached her five days later, informing her of an issue with the cabinet’s placement. She promptly relocated it back onto her property and disposed of it.
However, three weeks later, she was startled by another visit from an enforcement officer who presented her with a £500 (Rs 55,571.20) fine for fly-tipping.
“I got a knock on the door with a man with an enforcement camera on his chest, telling me he is filming me,” she said. “He read the caution speech to me – so that was very nerve-wracking. And then he issued me with a £500 fine for fly-tipping.”
Pepin challenged the fine in writing and initiated an appeal process with the third-party enforcement company employed by Bournemouth Council to issue such penalties. She has received an outpouring of support from the local community, with one resident admitting to engaging in similar practices for years without realizing it constituted fly-tipping.
Additionally, several local councillors have reached out to Pepin with messages of support. She remains hopeful that the appeal process will be successful, resulting in the fine being rescinded.
Isabelle Pepin, a graphic designer and artist, was left “very surprised” upon receiving a substantial penalty for fly-tipping after placing a cabinet outside her residence for others to take, Independent reported.
The cabinet, which had been used to store her son’s toys, was left against her front wall.
According to Pepin, a council officer approached her five days later, informing her of an issue with the cabinet’s placement. She promptly relocated it back onto her property and disposed of it.
However, three weeks later, she was startled by another visit from an enforcement officer who presented her with a £500 (Rs 55,571.20) fine for fly-tipping.
“I got a knock on the door with a man with an enforcement camera on his chest, telling me he is filming me,” she said. “He read the caution speech to me – so that was very nerve-wracking. And then he issued me with a £500 fine for fly-tipping.”
Pepin challenged the fine in writing and initiated an appeal process with the third-party enforcement company employed by Bournemouth Council to issue such penalties. She has received an outpouring of support from the local community, with one resident admitting to engaging in similar practices for years without realizing it constituted fly-tipping.
Additionally, several local councillors have reached out to Pepin with messages of support. She remains hopeful that the appeal process will be successful, resulting in the fine being rescinded.