YES! In my humble opinion.
Cigarette littering is absolutely disgusting and revolting for many, many, many reasons.
The Chesapeake Beach Civic League on Thursday voted by a 3-1 ratio in favor of the proposal, which would apply only to city beaches along the Chesapeake Bay, and plans to present the idea to the council next week.
And:
Every year, volunteers remove thousands of cigarette butts from the Bay and its tributaries during the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, said Tanner Council, who helps organize the event in Hampton Roads.
“It’s by far and away one of the largest, most egregious offenders that we find out there,” he said of cigarette-butt litter.
I can confirm that as an early member of Clean The Bay Day and “Tim the T-shirt Guy” for years – the number 1 piece of litter was the disgusting cigarette butt that not only is ugly, but kills.
At Fairfax County Website – The Virginia Code says:
According to Keep American Beautiful, Inc., smokers litter about 4.5 trillion cigarette butts yearly. The Department of Forestry reports that in 2001, cigarette butts thrown out of vehicle windows caused 190 fires, resulting in 464 acres of Virginia land being burned.
Littering is illegal. Most people are unaware of littering fines. Section 33.3-346 of the Code of Virginia makes littering or dumping trash a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500.
Many of the ignorant people who toss their cigarette butts on the ground might not know how wildlife ingests the plastic filter, can’t pass it, and it kills them.
Here is a video illustrating the effects plastic litter has on wildlife on Midway Island. That is, Midway Island in the middle of the Pacific!
One comment at Pilotonline.com article:
I hate it when smokers think the world is their ashtray, especially those who flick butts while driving or at a stoplight. Disgusting.
Recreation areas become less attractive. Tobacco litter represents nearly 32% of all litter in outdoor recreation areas.¹ Cigarette butt litter on beaches and waterfronts, at ball fields and parks, picnic areas and hiking trails decreases the appeal of these natural escapes. It also creates fire hazards, impacts local wildlife, and eventually contributes to lost tourism and revenue.
Pocket Ashtrays are a solution. I have hundreds that I hand out to anyone who smokes and especially if they litter in front of me.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 