The eight hot weather mistakes that could land you with a fine of up to £5,000

YOU could be fined for doing the wrong thing as temperatures start to rise this summer.

Fines for everything from bad driving practices to where you leave your rubbish could land you with whopping penalties worth thousands of pounds.

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Just this weekend, Brits are set to be basked by a four-day scorcher with temperatures set to climb to a sizzling 24C this weekend.

And that means sunseekers across the country will flocking to beaches and parks to soak up the hot weather.

But sometimes you have to be careful about bringing your pooch along, or the cooking gear you unpack on the sand.

The do’s and don’t of driving while the sun glares down are often a grey area too.

We reveal the eight mistakes you could be making when you let the hot weather get to you.

Driving in flip flops – up to £5,000

In the summertime flip flops become a staple part of any Brits’ wardrobe.

But the fashion statement could land you with a whopping fine if you wear them in the wrong place.

You shouldn’t wear them in the car while you’re driving for example.

Driving in flip flops isn’t illegal in itself, but wearing them could lead to a careless driving charge if they impede your ability to drive safely.

Under Rule 97 of the Highway Code, drivers are advised they must have “footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner”.

Flip flops aren’t the most secure form of footwear.

They could slip off, become wedged under pedals or prevent you from pressing the pedals with enough force to brake quickly, which could cause you to drive erratically or even lead to a collision.

Careless driving carries a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on your licence.

But in more serious cases, or those that are contested in court, the charge can attract a maximum £5,000 fine, up to nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban.

Driving without sunglasses or the wrong shades – up to £5,000

It’s not only what you’ve got on your feet, but Brits getting behind the wheel without appropriate eye wear could also be slapped with a fine up to £5,000.

It’s not a legal requirement to wear sunglasses when driving, but not putting them on could see you slapped with a careless driving charge.

The same goes for prescription glasses wearers – if you need your specs to see the road signs and more you could be caught out if you’re pulled over and found NOT wearing them.

In the same way, if the sun shines in your eyes and causes you to take your eyes off the road, a police officer could claim that you were “driving without due care and attention”.

According to Rule 237 of the Highway Code, drivers need to slow down or pull over if they are “dazzled by bright sunlight”.

Not using the air conditioning – up to £2,500

You could face more fines for your bad driving practices this summer.

Drivers face fines of up to £2,500 if they fail to properly use air conditioning or other ventilation in their car.

That’s because Rule 237 of the Highway Code says vehicles must be kept well ventilated “to avoid drowsiness”.

It means drivers should ensure they have working air conditioning or are able to drive with their windows down to keep cool and not overheat.

“Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition” carries a £2,500 fine and three points on a license.

Barbecues on the beaches or in the park – fines vary

Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family, especially when the weather perks up.

But you could be fined for having a barbecue in public spaces.

It is allowed in some parks or on parts of some beaches though, so check before before you start grilling. 

In more rural areas, the Countryside Code says when you should an you should not light a barbecue.

The Code states: “Only use BBQs where signs state they are allowed.

“Always put your BBQ out, make sure the ashes are cold and dispose of them responsibly.

Some common land areas – including spaces owned by the local council, privately, or by the National Trust – have different rules and regulations.

Some do not allow the lighting of fires or use of barbecues altogether.

How much you can be fined, or whether you’ll be fined at all depends on the local area.

Walking your dog on the beach – up to £1,000

Your four legged friend can enjoy a trip to the seaside as much as anyone else, but in the most built-up spots they’re not welcome on the sand.

It’s typically the case in the summer months, as dogs aren’t allowed on the crowded beaches.

In Bournemouth, for example, dogs are allowed on all beaches from October 1 to April 30.

But anytime between then could see owners slapped with a whopping £1,000 fine.

If you want to take your pooch for a dip it’s best to do it off-season as fines are usually relaxed in the autumn and winter time.

Having a garden bonfire – up to £5,000

In just the same way that you could be fined for having a barbecue in a public space, you could get caught out setting an area of your own back garden alight.

If you have a garden bonfire on a nice light summer’s evening, you could be fined if you light a fire and allow the smoke to drift across the road and become a danger to traffic.

You may have to fork out ask much as £5,000 if that’s the case too.

If it’s your neighbour that’s caused smoke to billow across the houses then you can complain to your local council.

They have a responsibility to investigate complaints of smoke and fumes that could be a “statutory nuisance“.

Urinating in a public place – from £60

In the summer it’s only natural to drink a lot more – but it’s no good if you get caught short out and about.

The only problem is, if you don’t use a proper restroom, you can end up being find hundreds of pounds for urinating in a public place. 

Public urination as an offence comes under the by-laws of individual local authorities across the country under Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972.

So how much you can get fined varies depending on the local council.

In some cases, police officers may also issue a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 for urinating in public with fines beginning at £60.

Littering in outdoor public spaces – up to £150

Litter bugs who leave rubbish in the outdoor spaces they visit this summer can face big fines. 

Councils have the power to issue on-the-spot penalties of up to £150 for littering.

They can also fine drivers the same amount for throwing rubbish from a vehicle window. 

Meanwhile, police officers can issue a £60 Penalty Notice for Disorder if you litter under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Sometimes it’s not the naughty things you do over here that you have to worry about this summer, as Brits will be hit with fines AFTER they return home from Spanish holidays too.

Wwe reveal how you could swerve £7,000 worth of penalties though.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk