Cigarette butts

[PeacePiece]

First of all, I realize in many parts of CA it's just not a high priority, but in others I can see why it would be taken more seriously. So I wanted to ask you LEOs out there....

Every fire season we hear that several of the big fires were started by human negligence/stupidity. I remember last year reading that a couple of them began as roadside brush-smolders, which are frequently (not always, obviously) discarded lit cigarettes. There is major risk of property loss and injury once they start a flare-up.

At least once a day I see cretins throw their lit cigarettes out of their car window. Obviously littering is ignorant and a violation by itself, but that's not what I'm getting at here ... like I said I don't think many people expect LEOs to be on litter patrol! There are far more important priorities for our limited law enforcement resources.

It is the fire danger I think of, especially in the more rural areas where the discarded butts blow into the dry brushy areas beside the road.

So I am curious if this issue is ever on your enforcement "radar" when on patrol, especially during dry season.... particularly interested in hearing from you guys who are working the less populated areas.

Thanks in advance.

[tyrist]

If I have time I will write the ticket.

[Some Guy]

My aunt got a ticket for this a couple years ago, IIRC it was about 6 or 8 hundred.

[Fjold]

My neighbor threw her lit cigarette butt out her car window near Taft and actually hit the hood of a CHP coming the other direction. It cost her $1,500.

[masameet]

I know a motor LEO who arrested a guy for throwing a lit cigarette butt into the street. Not because he's bad *** (and I suppose he is). For some reason he has a genuine dislike for marijuana, and that's what the litterer tossed as he saw the motor LEO ride towards him, a marijuana roach. The motor took the butt in as evidence too.

[SanSacto]

Great point about the cigarette butts. IMO as a citizen I would like to see that enforced more. On the road, on the street, anywhere that is public propoerty.

[SVT-40]

I used to love writing these cites. NO BREAKS EVER I didn't care who you are or what silly excuses you had or who you knew. Same goes for straight littering.


I don't think any cop would ignore this type of violation without reason. The only reason a LEO might have to is because he's on his way to a high priority call.

[FLIGHT762]

My neighbor threw her lit cigarette butt out her car window near Taft and actually hit the hood of a CHP coming the other direction. It cost her $1,500.

Every Cop's dream. I would write them when I could, littering too.
I remember being stopped in traffic waiting for a green light. The guy in front of me was eating a Butterfinger. He peeled off the wrapper, ate it then tossed the wrapper out the window. I wrote him a cite. He should have looked in his rear view mirror.

Just like people still talking on their cellphones without hands free. Hardly anyone complies If you're too stupid to see the black and white passing by, you deserve a ticket.

[TRICKSTER]

Ahh yes, the Paul Buzzo Act.

[696k]

A favorite cite for me too!

I love seeing some Bozo flick his partially lit cig into the street or any other trash for that matter. The last guy that did it was while we were sitting at a very long traffic light. Out sails a butt...So I just put on my ambers and got out and walked up to him. He almost had a heart attack.

I asked him to please step out of his car and recover his butt since I was positive he had accidentally dropped it. After all only a complete jacka** would do that in front of a police officer. He sheepishly got out of his car and retrieved his cigarette.

Funny thing...people saw what was going on and began honking and yelling write him a ticket...this guy was totally embarrassed and humiliated. One guy even yelled at him and called him a jerk!

By this time the light was about to phase so I returned to my unit...I think the good folks who had commented on his actions did more than a ticket ever could...

[Jonathan Doe]

Two violations that I have never gave a break to the drivers:

1. Throwing cigarette butts out of the window. Once, it hit the hood of my radio car.

2. The cars that smoking from the tail pipe.

I believe that the penalty of throwing cigarette butts out the window has a heavier fine due to it being flammable.

[ojisan]

I'm a smoker. All I have to say is:


Especially if the butt is still lit and it is in a fire hazard area.

[DRM6000]

i'm just loving what i'm reading about the zero tolerance for litterbugs. nothing, i mean absolutely nothing, irks me more when i'm on the road than jerks who toss cigarette butts out the window.

i read about the ultimate lesson for a litterbug. guy tossed a lit butt out of suv on the sf bay bridge. his back window was open and the butt sailed back into the suv. the entire vehicle burned to the ground on the offramp. i wish i could have been there to cheer.

[bluestaterebel]

Most cops have their own pet peeves for whatever reason, speeding, littering, California stops, etc..one of mine is unbuckled kids.I dont like the littering either

[bubbagump]

Most cops have their own pet peeves for whatever reason, speeding, littering, California stops, etc..one of mine is unbuckled kids.I dont like the littering either

+1

Zero Tolerance:
Handi-cap violations
Littering
Taggers
Felonies

50/50:
Drunk in public
Drinking
All other parking violations
Potheads
Urinating in public
Underage cheese parties

Didn't care:
Curfew
Adult Cheese Parties
Vendors
Panhandling
Mutual Combat