Sixteen people were order to pay £382 each for littering offences at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Tuesday
The court heard how the offenders were all given fixed penalty notices by the Council’s environmental enforcement officers, who witnessed them dropping litter on the city’s streets.
However, despite several reminders, the fixed penalty notices remained unpaid, resulting in a summons to court.
None of the defendants presented themselves at court to answer for their crimes and so were found guilty in their absence.
They were all ordered to pay a £150 fine, £200 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
The original fixed penalty notice was for just £100.
All of the fines must now be paid within 28 days. All 16 defendants will also now carry a criminal record.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet member for Customer Focus and Community Safety, said: "I real like a broken record, but really? How hard is it? Don’t drop litter on our streets. It’s really basic stuff.
"These people have now had to pay £382 when they could have just found a bin to put their rubbish in. Don’t be like them. Don’t drop litter.”