Fined For Littering (Lincoln, Weston: live, law, move)

[skidamarink]

Hi everyone,

I am in Lincoln and last week at night I was pulled over while driving down a busy street. The officer fined me over $100 for throwing a cigarette butt out the window. I never knew I could get fined for that and I asked for a warning but they wouldn't give me one. Now I know better, of course. Would I have a decent chance at fighting this ticket? I've never heard of people getting such fines so I don't know how difficult it is to fight it. But I just think the fine is ridiculous for one cigarette. I would have to take off work if I went to court for this so I want to be confident that I have a good shot at challenging this.

[IsThisOneTaken?]

You didn't know you could get fined for littering? I guess that seems like common sense to me, but common sense not withstanding, there are signs posted all over highways talking about littering and the fines associated with it.

Sorry, but ignorance of the law is no defense and you won't convince a judge otherwise.

You might just be thankful it was only $100 as those highway signs reference fines up to $1,000.

Now, do I think the fine structure may be wrong? Yes. I have a real problem with $100 to $1,000 fines for littering, yet you can drive down the road with your baby on your lap and only be fined $25.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but IMHO you would be best to chalk it up to experience, take your licks and move on.

[Michael Weston]

Boo Hoo. Don't litter. I'm sure you knew that such a thing is against the law, but you did it anyways. That's the risk you take. Take some responsibility for your actions and just accept the consequences.

On what grounds would you fight the ticket?

[rachaella]

Yeah, pay the $100 and don't litter anymore.

Just wondering, but what did you think happens to all those cigarette butts you've been throwing out the window?

[RogueMom]

I with they'd get that tough where I live.

[T. Damon]

Originally Posted by montanamom

I with they'd get that tough where I live.

Exactly! Here in California you see signs alongside the freeway that warn of $1000 fines for littering- seems about right to me, although I'm convinced it has never been enforced. If I was a cop I would happily write those tickets all day long.

If you want to be a lazy ass slob and toss your trash out the window, especially cigarette butts (every single smoker -ok there might one or two that don't- tosses those disgusting butts on the ground every time and don't think a thing about it) you should be slapped with a $1000 fine. Especially knowing that you have tossed 1000s of butts out your window in your life.

I am sure this is the best thing that I will hear of all day. Bravo to the officer!

[Gunluvver2]

If the cigarette was lit I would fine you a heckuva lot more and give you 90 days on top of it. If your lit cigarette started a fire that killed someone I would give you life. If I were you I would pay the $100 fine and consider it a valuable education. I know some of the Judges here in Lincoln and there are one or two of them that would just love to hear you try to explain how trivial tossing a butt out the window is. I'll be checking court records to see if you try to weasel out of it LOL.

GL2

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Michael Weston

Boo Hoo. Don't litter. I'm sure you knew that such a thing is against the law, but you did it anyways. That's the risk you take. Take some responsibility for your actions and just accept the consequences.

On what grounds would you fight the ticket?

Is stupidity a defense????

[Sandhills Guru]

No sympathy here either. Ahhhh, what the heck fight it in court, that way when you are found guilty the fine might be even larger!!!

[SunshineSanity]

Wow, y'all are harsh.
Most cops won't pull you over for doing that. Seems like you just got pulled over by a jerk.