The in basket: Sean Alacchi of Port Orchard writes, “At least
three or four times a week, I personally witness some yea-hoo
flicking a lit (cigarette) butt from a car or truck.
“I have the state litter report line – (866) 548-8371 – on
speed-dial in my cell phone and call it when I can provide a
license number of the offender. While there is no fine or penalty
to the offender as part of this report, the registered owner of the
vehicle does get a letter from the state putting them on notice
that they are being reported by witnesses.
The in basket: Sean Alacchi of Port Orchard writes, “At least three
or four times a week, I personally witness some yea-hoo flicking a
lit (cigarette) butt from a car or truck.
“It’s hot, it’s dry and the brush on the side of the road is ripe
for a fire. The lack of concern or consideration for the safety of
others or their property is appalling. It obviously costs all of us
in many ways when Kitsap County Fire/Rescue has to respond to these
brush fires.
“I have the state litter report line – (866) 548-8371 – on
speed-dial in my cell phone and call it when I can provide a
license number of the offender. While there is no fine or penalty
to the offender as part of this report, the registered owner of the
vehicle does get a letter from the state putting them on notice
that they are being reported by witnesses.
“Perhaps a well-written article from you might help raise the
awareness of this preventable danger to our roads and surrounding
property.”
The out basket: Good idea, though I wonder whether the kind of
doofus who would toss a cigarette butt out the window this time of
year reads anything, newspapers, online blogs or anything else.
Sean has the facts straight, I learned in calling that number.
About all he left out is that the letter comes from the State
Patrol, mentions that the fine is $1,025 if a cop sees you do it,
and that the Department of Ecology sends an orange litter bag for
use in the car along with the letter. I don’t suppose they want
cigarette butts going into the bag (fires inside the car aren’t any
better than fires outside) but it would help keep the roadsides
clean of other trash.
