HB 2294 Increase Fine for Littering

[bigtex]

HB 2294 introduced today by Representatives Pike, Wylie, Stonier, Vick, Harris, Blake, Farrell, and Moeller would increase the penalty for the lowest level littering violation.

It is currently a Class 3 civil infraction to litter an amount less than or equal to one cubic foot. Per state law a Class 3 civil infraction fine is $50 plus statutory assessments which bring the fine to $103. The bill would classify the offense as a Class 2 civil infraction which per state law has a fine of $125 plus statutory assessments. Statutory assessments essentially double the fine, so the fine would be around $250.

http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2294&year=2013

[jrebel]

I wish it was more....the one thing I hate more than anything is the amount of garbage on our roads and in our woods.

[vandeman17]

Its funny because I was thinking the other day about this and how I wished they would increase the fine. I also think that if you get caught you should not only have to clean it up but go do a few hours of cleanup somewhere else. Non negotiable.

[lokidog]

Hey, look at that, a poll that we all agree on, so far anyways.   

They also need to make tossing lit cigs out the car window a $1000 fine.

Does an LEO have to observe the littering or can a private citizen bear witness to it?  I'd be more than happy to go to court to testify.

[bobcat]

Sounds good to me. How about also making it a felony for an illegal immigrant to litter on public land.  (Brush pickers)     

[bigtex]

They also need to make tossing lit cigs out the car window a $1000 fine.

Does an LEO have to observe the littering or can a private citizen bear witness to it?  I'd be more than happy to go to court to testify.

The fine for discarding potentially dangerous litter such as a cig is $1025

An officer can issue a citation if they can prove there was reasonable cause the violation occurred.

[PlateauNDN]

I seen Nevada's littering fine was 2500. And idaho was bout the same. I seen a sign near vegas said 5000. So maybe ours should be close to theirs?

[steeleywhopper]

Washington needs even stiffer fines. Our state is disgusting compared to Idaho Wyoming and Montana. Heck, even B.C. has super clean highways.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Needs to be way higher. 2000-5000$?

[Band]

Absolutely, yes.  And fine like there's no tomorrow for those littered cigarettes!  Make it hurt!!

[Heredoggydoggy]

Yeah, like the present laws do any good.  Seen all the couches and TVs along side the roads?  WMI increased their fees a while back.  The result was even more garbage dumped everywhere. 

[Wea300mag]

 , I'm all for it.

[safehunter]

  I say minimum of a grand for garbage and at least $5000 for flicking a lit cig out the window! Late last summer coming back home on I90 had a VW with Oregon plates, rainbow sticker, two guys( yeah I guess cute ), passenger was taking pictures out the window. I thought maybe on their honeymoon? Then the SOB throw's out a freaking cig. Not in front of me without getting a 5 minute horn blare and a peace sign missing a digit!!!!!!

[Pinetar]

Yes, Yes and Yes! The fine should be way more and if caught a second time doubled.

[TheHunt]

It needs to be much higher. I would also like to see some much higher fines for dumping.

[Special T]

Yeah, like the present laws do any good.  Seen all the couches and TVs along side the roads?  WMI increased their fees a while back.  The result was even more garbage dumped everywhere. 

I see lots of BIG things fly out of the back of peoples trucks, couches, beds toys etc. I'm tired of getting hassled by the CVE troopers (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement) because they think my 3 straps aren't tight enough when so many jackwagons are doing 75 down the road with NO straps on their home furnishings... Yet i get stopped because there is an "Emphasis patrol" 

[deaner]

hell a number of years ago they raised the fine for pitching a cig butt out the window to over a thousand dollars and i still see people do it.  double that one and make the general littering fine in the same ballpark.  i *censored*ing hate littering slobs.  how hard is it to keep your trash in your rig until you get home, or to a grocery store, gas station, anywhere you park is a garbage can.  no excuse for it.

[Stickerbush]

Thousand bucks for a CIG? I don't smoke but jeez

[deaner]

Thousand bucks for a CIG? I don't smoke but jeez

ya they did that years ago, its something a little over $1100 i think.  but hey, so many people pitching them all the time, if you look at the sides of offramps and whatnot its basically a carpet of cigarette butts, its disgusting.  cars have ash trays, and if your car doesnt have an ashtray, put your damn butt in a soda can or something.  theres just no excuse for it, i dont feel sorry for somebody getting a thousand dollar ticket for being an a-hole

[Band]

Thousand bucks for a CIG? I don't smoke but jeez

Why not?  Littering is bad enough but for god's sake, major forest fires are started because of morons who don't want to use their ash tray.  Have you noticed the strips of burned ground along the freeway in the Summer?  How do you think those start?

[Gobble Doc]

None of these laws matter if they aren't enforced. 

[lokidog]

None of these laws matter if they aren't enforced.

Right there is the problem.  I reported a lit cig out the window a couple years ago and the person said unless an LEO saw it, they couldn't do anything.  So, I followed the butt-head to her driveway and ripped her one for the potential fire she could have caused.  I think she was a bit stunned as she kept apologizing over and over.  I bet she thinks twice about tossing one since then.   

[Gobble Doc]

Good for you!  Civil enforcement. 

[bigtex]

The bill passed out of the House on February 17 with a 81-17 vote. Those voting against were Representatives Buys, Christian, Condotta, DeBolt, Fagan, Holy, G. Hunt, Manweller, Overstreet, Roberts, Santos, Schmick, Scott, Shea, Taylor, Wilcox, Young.

The bill was passed out the Senate Committee on Energy, and Environment & Telecommunications today and now goes before the Senate Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[washelkhunter]

Good to know our reps are busy with the big issues facing our state eh?

[bigtex]

Good to know our reps are busy with the big issues facing our state eh?

It's better then the bills relating to the "state waterfall" and the "state oyster"....... 

[washelkhunter]

Oh man! I could really go for a 1/2 dozen willapa petits right now.