Can you get fined for dropping cigarette ash on the street?

Question

This is a question that's been bugging me for a while. Yeah, obviously, you can expect to get fined by your friendly neighbourhood environmental local council Gestapo officers for dropping a fagend on the street but where do they draw the line. Could you expect to get done for leaving fagash too? There's no mention on any of the warning notices. Maybe if they're having a slow day raising funds and decide to change the rules. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for keeping a clean litter free enviroment but when, as is the case locally, there are hardly any bins in the vicinity and when you gotta smoke you gotta smoke.

Answer 1

Depends where you live. I've heard of a case in Alaska, and there's a reference to it happening in New Jersey here: http://www.nycclash.com/2005archives.html

Seems to be happening in London, too:
http://www.thisislondon.com/showbiz/articles/19617264?source=Evening%20Standard

Answer 2

Remember that before any penalty can be imposed, you must first be deemed liable.

Now if the local council had a regulation in effect which specifically banned people dropping *** ash on the street, the answer would be yes - so long as they had the evidence to back up their charge.

In practice though the council will have a host of regulations that relate to littering and the protection of the environment. My local council has a online form so you can 'grass' on people you see dropping any litter. He would then be liable to a £50 fine or the case could even go to the magistrates court - if it was serious. I doubt that any council would have the bottle to waste public money prosecuting someone in the Magistrates for dropping *** ash. In law it ash does not amount to 'litter'.

To directly answer your question: Present law does not permit it.
"Litter" is defined: In section 98 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 :
"(5A) "Litter" includes-
(a) the discarded ends of cigarettes, cigars and like products, and
(b) discarded chewing-gum and the discarded remains of other products designed for chewing."

Answer 3

There is no way that someone can be fined for dropping ash on the street, but of course you could be fined for littering the butt on the street.

Answer 4

Unless it actually says about this on the street, as far as I know you CAN'T get find for Cigarette ash.

However you should contact your local council / Police about it and ask them.

Good question!

:-)

Answer 5

I knew a person that was fined just for dumping ice, it turns into water, So yes you can get fined for ashes also.

Answer 6

I say chain da smokers to a fence for 6 days. Then they r free.

Answer 7

Fine, fine, fine! Fine them all! Ash droppers, paper droppers, anything droppers in public areas. Save us a fortune.

heavenlyhaggis

Answer 8

some states you can get fined,and some towns It's against the law to smoke,they are smoke free,get got smoking big trouble.

Answer 9

It all depends on the local laws where you live. Don't forget that something may technically be illegal but not enforced.

Answer 10

i am lead to belive not ash, but ends you get fined for