Vehicle owners in Wales could be fined when litter is thrown from their car, even if they were not driving or present at the time.

The Welsh Government is consulting on whether to introduce new powers allowing registered vehicle owners to be penalised for roadside litter. It says roadside rubbish blights communities, harms wildlife and creates a significant financial burden for councils, diverting money from services including education, housing and libraries.

Under current law, enforcement action can only be taken when the person responsible for dropping the litter can be identified, which the Welsh Government says makes it difficult for councils to tackle the problem.

The proposed approach would allow a penalty to be issued to the person a vehicle is registered to, regardless of whether they were responsible for the littering or even in the vehicle at the time. Similar powers already exist in England and are due to be introduced in Scotland.

No decision has been made and people in Wales are being invited to submit their views and evidence before the consultation closes on October 14.

The proposal forms part of a wider consultation on environmental sustainability, which also includes plans to increase the maximum fixed penalty for fly-tipping to £5,000.

Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd, said: “No-one likes litter. Roadside rubbish makes an area unsightly, impacts our local economies and communities, and poses risks to the environment and to wildlife.

“It's often impossible to prove who in a car threw litter out, so councils' hands are tied even when they know it's happened.”

“I'd encourage everyone to give us their views and help us clean up our roadsides,” he added.

The Welsh Government consultation is open until October 14 and can be found at: www.gov.wales/rural-proofing-and-environmental-sustainability-white-paper