My son was fined £500 just for dropping a cigarette butt

He said he was forcibly stopped from picking it up and promptly issued with the fixed-penalty notice

My son was fined £500 after dropping a cigarette butt in Southwark, London. He says the enforcement officer physically prevented him from picking it up, and told him he would escape a fine if he provided ID, and the police would be called if he didn’t. He complied and was promptly issued with a fixed-penalty notice (FPN).

However, £500 is more than a typical fine for a dangerous offence such as speeding.

I’ve since found fines and enforcement vary dramatically between London boroughs. Barnet charges £100, but drop your cigarette on the Enfield side of Cockfosters Road and your fine will be £500. Same “crime” a few yards apart and a 400% increase. These fines are not proportional and not fair.

TH, London