What Law are Idahoans Breaking Every Day?

Laws are meant to be broken. They shouldn't be, but many people break the law every single day. Every time your vehicle goes over the speed limit, you cross a road that isn't at a crosswalk, or any time you forget to use your blinker when switching lanes or turning. These are only a few examples, but there are many others broken each day. There is one law that thousands of residents in Idaho are breaking daily, and something needs to be done about it, and it needs to be reinforced.

Littering in the Gem State

Credit: Anthony Verano / TSM Hudson Valley

Many people in Idaho experience stress due to the weather, their work, and the demands of everyday life. To help them relax, they smoke a cigarette. Some smoke one or two, others smoke a pack, and some smoke more than that. Some look down on smokers, but smoking a cigarette is not illegal. What is unlawful is when they decide to throw their cigarettes on the ground and litter. This can lead to a fire, and has led to wildfires in the past, but they can also make your street, your yard, and your home trashy as well. If someone throws one or two cigarettes on the ground, it isn't too noticeable or bad, but when someone smokes multiple cigarettes a day and throws them in the same spot, they begin to pile up and become more noticeable. Should these litterers be punished?

Throwing Out Cigarettes in Idaho is Illegal

Credit: NeagoneFo

Most smokers will throw their cigarettes on the ground when they are done. Some will use an ashtray, some will step on them, then pick them up and throw them away, but most throw them on the ground without a care. When someone smokes in the same location often and does this every day, it piles up. According to Idaho law, it is illegal to do so, and you can check out the laws by clicking this link. Throwing an unlit cigarette is only littering, but throwing out a lit one could lead to dire consequences. It could be a misdemeanor and lead to a $2,500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both. It is also important to be respectful of your neighbors who may be sensitive to smoke, allergic to it, or hate the smell.

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Make sure to take care of your cigarettes properly the next time you dispose of them. Make sure to never throw lit ones out cause they could blow into your neighbor's yard and start a fire, start a wildfire, and put others at risk. For more on the law, make sure to click the link in the paragraph above.

Idaho Ranks One of the Highest For Cost of Smoking Over A Lifetime

WalletHub Methodology "In order to assess the impact of tobacco use on a smoker’s finances both over a lifetime and in a single year, WalletHub calculated the potential monetary losses — including the cumulative cost of a cigarette pack per day over several decades, health-care expenditures, income losses, and other costs — brought on by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke."

Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews