A man in the United Kingdom has been ordered to pay approximately ₹2.87 lakh after throwing a parking ticket towards a female traffic enforcement officer. The case highlights how an incident that began with a parking dispute resulted in a separate littering conviction and substantial court costs.
How the Parking Dispute Escalated
Stephen Lang, 58, was issued a parking notice after his vehicle was found outside a marked bay at Exchequer Quay car park in Penryn, Cornwall.
According to reports, Lang removed the notice from his vehicle and threw it onto the ground. When the officer picked it up and placed it back on the vehicle, he removed it again, crumpled it and threw it towards her.
The incident was captured by the officer’s body-worn camera and the car park’s CCTV.
Why Was He Fined Nearly ₹3 Lakh?
Cornwall Council issued Lang a £250 fixed penalty notice for littering after the incident in November 2025. He did not pay the penalty despite receiving a reminder and a warning that the matter could be taken to court.
At Truro Magistrates’ Court on October 14, 2026, Lang was found guilty in his absence after failing to attend the hearing.
The court ordered him to pay:
- £250 fine for littering.
- £1,920.90 in legal costs.
- £100 victim surcharge.
The total came to £2,270.90, equivalent to approximately ₹2.87 lakh. The amount was for the littering case and associated costs, separate from the original parking notice.
Council Warns Against Abuse of Enforcement Officers
Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for community safety and public health, Thalia Marrington, said littering and aggressive behaviour towards officers carrying out their duties would not be tolerated.
The case serves as a reminder that throwing away or damaging a parking notice does not resolve the original dispute. In this instance, the additional littering offence and failure to pay the penalty led to a court case with significantly higher costs.