When Jay Weliczko dropped a cigarette from his car window he thought nothing of it.
But a few days later an official-looking letter dropped through his door, ordering him to pay a £60 fine for littering.
Jay, 41, of New Basford, who is the manager of Robin Hood Jacket Potatoes on the corner of Long Row, Nottingham, learned his lesson.
The fine might have been years ago, but now he always thinks twice about disposing of his litter.
Jay spoke to the Post as we hit the streets armed with the latest figures on just how many people have been fined for littering or allowing their dogs to foul the pavements.
Mr Weliczko said: "I chucked my cigarette out of the window and didn't think anything of it. There must have been a warden watching who took my registration. It cost me £60.
"I'm more alert now to throwing my litter away."
On litter bugs, he said: "I think for the first offence you should get a warning. Next time you should get a fine.
"It is bad in the city [litter wise] Monday to Thursday. On a Saturday morning there is rubbish everywhere. It's mainly McDonalds' wrappers."
More than 1,000 people in one year were penalised for throwing cigarettes out of their cars; 3,013 for littering in the street; and 843 for not moving their wheelie bins. Bins should be moved off the pavement within eight hours of collection as they are deemed an obstruction and unsightly.
The city has 100 Community Protection Officers helping to keep the streets clean.
Their job has been made easier by the solar-powered 'Big Belly' bins that compact waste and send out e-mails when they are full.
Richard Antcliff, head of neighbourhood enforcement for Community Protection, said: "We'll remain relentless in tackling anything that affects citizens' quality of life. This ultimately may include enforcement action and fines and we make no apologies for that.
"We're the UK's cleanest large city for the third year running and will do everything in our power to remain so. From fly-tipping to dog fouling, if you know of a perpetrator in your area get in touch with our anti-social behaviour helpline on 9152020 and our officers will deal with it."
Neil Fincham, centre manager of The Exchange shopping arcade and chairman of the Nottingham BID place management advisory group, said: "To attract visitors it's important to keep the city uniformly clean and tidy to make sure there is a well-groomed look and feel right across the city.
"Making the city a clean, more welcoming place for shoppers and fun-seekers is vitally important for business, and the Nottingham BID plays an integral part in creating an appealing environment."
Jasmin Barlow-Wilkinson, owner of Homemade café, Hockley, said: "The streets around us are generally clean. But I don't know why people throw things down. They wouldn't do it in their house."
