Craigieburn man fined $1120 after tossing a burning cigarette from his car

The Melbourne man was hit with the fine after he was caught in the act while driving.

A Melbourne man has copped a $1120 fine after he was caught tossing a lit cigarette from his car, and then attempted the fight the penalty in court.

Victoria’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was alerted to the act through a witness report via the 24-hour pollution hotline on May 19, 2023.

At the time, he was seen throwing the lit cigarette while on Sydney Rd, Campbellfield while inside a Honda sedan.

The act of throwing a lit ciggarette, or other kinds of “dangerous litter” from a vehicle holds a fine of $769 in Victoria.

In Victoria, the act of throwing a lit ciggarette, or other kinds of “dangerous litter” from a vehicle holds a fine of $769. Litterring a small item of rubbish like a cigarette butt, or food packaging could see an individual fined $385.

However, the Craigieburn man attempted to fight the penalty at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court, where he was fined $730 for tossing the burning dart, and ordered to pay an extra $380 in costs.

The EPA warned cigarette butts were the most common form of litter and had the potential to wreak a lot of damage on the environment.

“They often find their way through drains and waterways to the bay, and lit cigarettes can cause fires if they land among grass or bush,” its statement said.

The agency encouraged members of the public to report acts of pollution by either the EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842, or through its online complaints portal.

Originally published as Craigieburn man fined $1120 after tossing a burning cigarette from his car