Foul-mouthed visitors to Kent’s tourist hotspots are now in danger of on-the-spot fines and prosecutions for swearing in public.

This summer, Thanet council members implemented a crackdown on beach towns including Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs in an effort to prohibit foul language from upsetting the inhabitants. Police and council employees now have the authority to fine anyone who is overheard saying hurtful things aloud £100, and those who don't pay up face legal action.The council's use of obscure public space protection orders (PSPOs) to impose the fines generated a great deal of controversy concerning punishing people for actions they might not have realised were prohibited. You might be shocked to hear that committing these additional small offences could put you in jail.

utilising an escalator improperly Who knew using the Tube's escalator could lead to such problems? Recently, a commuter gave in to the temptation of pressing the large red emergency stop button, and a Transport for London official was there to confront them right away."I don't know why, I just did it," he said. The man of Southall paid £558 in fines and court costs after he was convicted for stopping an escalator on the Transport for London regional railway network without authorisation.

Spitters and litterers

Most people would agree that spitting on the ground in public is disgusting and morally reprehensible. But how many people know that those who do it can actually be prosecuted for littering?

In a recent case, Greenwich Council took Patel Keshra to court for dropping saliva on to the ground outside JD Sports in Woolwich, using the littering provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to bring the criminal case.

A council officer spotted the spitting, approached Mr Keshra, and demanded to know his name and address so that he could be served with a fine.

“The defendant did not pick up the litter”, the officer dryly observed in his witness statement.

Poor mopeds Police have the broad authority to punish anyone they see is not maintaining sufficient control over their vehicle and endangering other road users. While using a phone while driving is a common and evident practice, certain drivers encounter issues when engaging in rather unique activities. Two-wheelers in the dock Drivers are aware that running a red light is prohibited and that doing so will have dire repercussions. That's why it makes sense to become infuriated when a reckless bike runs red lights without stopping. But occasionally, those who break the law while riding a bike are made to answer for their actions; this usually happens when police happen to witness the incident.

Making use of the Tube train doors On the Underground, caution labels such as "Danger, do not use when the train is moving" and "Emergency use only" are typically affixed to the doors connecting the various cars. However, how many travellers are aware that ignoring the stickers is actually against TfL bylaws? In March, an officer on the Victoria Line confronted Aaron Sharma, a resident of Croydon, for allegedly "passing through the interchanging doors while the train was in motion". When informed that it was prohibited, he said, "Really didn't know that."

driving without glasses In January, 78-year-old driver Michael Hall collided with a cyclist in his Toyota Yaris when he was travelling to the dentist in St Ives. As the bicycle rode into Mr. Hall's path and gave him "no time to react," police concluded that the cyclist was at fault for the collision. However, Mr. Hall's issues did not end here. Riding a bicycle carelessly cyclizing Mikey is a well-known road safety activist in London, having gained notoriety for his photos of drivers including Guy Ritchie and Chris Eubank violating traffic laws. However, he consistently makes it plain that both drivers and cyclists must abide by the law. 

Get your skates off

E-Scooters and E-bikes are banned from the Tube in case the lithium batteries suddenly burst into flames. And people are prosecuted every week for breaking that rule, whether they know about it or not.