Indiana State Police crack down on drivers tossing cigarettes - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

With much of Indiana in severe to extreme drought, Indiana State Police are cracking down on drivers who throw burning cigarettes from their cars.

Scattered like potpourri along any Indiana roadway, discarded cigarettes are everywhere and everyone seems to notice.

"They are lazy and selfish and not concerned about the community, only about themselves," said driver Yolanda Collins.

"Smokers, it is part of the price you pay. We don't need to pay for you putting your butts in traffic," said driver Rodney Davis.

"It is littering people. You got an ashtray, put your cigarette butts in the ashtray. It irritates me, even when it is not dry," said driver Karen Klebert.

It's not just dry, it is extremely dry out around Indiana and the combination can be dangerous.

State police are worried about the trash starting brush fires, like one Monday along I-70 in Hendricks County that slowed traffic. Two fires on I-65 Tuesday also affected drivers - more reason for troopers to track down violators.

"Try to get it in your mind that you are causing a hazard when you throw a cigarette out, even when it is not dry, you can cause someone to swerve and take actions that they normally would not take," said Trooper Luke Berrier.

While troopers say they are fed up with the problem, it's very difficult to tell if someone is violating the law, especially in the daylight. It might be hard to tell if something looks like a cigarette or looks like trash.

"You have to be right behind the car to see it and you can't see the embers from the cigarette," Berrier said.

If state police do catch you, you could be fined $10,000. That's the maximum penalty for throwing out a lit cigarette, cigar, match, or anything burning. If you're finished with your nicotine and toss it out the window, it's still littering, which comes with a $1,000 ticket.

While you may see a cigarette get flipped out of a car window, it's not a violation citizens can necessarily report.

"Any infractions like that have to be seen by the police officer. People just can't call in and say, 'I saw someone throw a cigarette, can you stop them?," Berrier said.

Still, state police ask you to ask your friends that smoke to think before they throw.

"Individuals have a responsibility to do the right thing. Protect the world and just don't litter," said Violet Collins.
As of this week, 82 of the state's 92 counties are under active burn bans. Although those bans are temporary, Indiana State Police point out that anyone who throws burning materials, like a lit cigarette, cigar or match from a moving vehicle is committing a Class A infraction (according to statute IC 35-45-3-3).