Urgent! Littering question!

[dani252]

My child had thrown a 2mm popcorn out of the car and a policeman cited him. What is the penalty for throwing one two millimeter popcorn piece out of the car? The police let us go.

[Citicop]

Penalties for breaking the law vary by state, county, and city.

Since you have not told us where you are (or otherwise introduced yourself at all) we don't have enough information to answer your question.

I'm sensing there may be more to this story than what you wrote.

-Citicop.

[dani252]

Los Angeles CA

[dani252]

Please help. I don't know what to do. The officer just let us go after we told him what he littered. I have no idea what to expect.

[Citicop]

According to the California Vehicle Code:

Littering

42001.7. (a) Every person convicted of a violation of Section 23111 or 23112, or subdivision (a) of Section 23113, shall be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a first conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a second conviction, and by a mandatory fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction.

In no case may the court order imprisonment in the county jail for a violation punishable under this subdivision, unless imprisonment is ordered pursuant to Section 166 of the Penal Code.

(b) The court shall, in addition to the fines imposed pursuant to subdivision (a), order the offender to pick up litter or clean up graffiti at a time and place within the jurisdiction of the court as follows:

(1) For a first conviction punished pursuant to subdivision (a), the court shall require the offender to pick up litter or clean up graffiti for not less than eight hours.

(2) For a second conviction punished pursuant to subdivision (a), the court shall require the offender to pick up litter or clean up graffiti for not less that 16 hours.

(3) For a third or subsequent conviction punished pursuant to subdivision (a), the court shall require the offender to pick up litter or clean up graffiti for not less than 24 hours.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that persons convicted of highway littering be required to bear the penalty for their actions. Therefore, the court may not suspend the mandatory fines required by subdivision (a) except in unusual cases where the interest of justice would best be served by suspension of the fine. If the court suspends imposition of any fine required by subdivision (a), it shall, as a condition of that suspension, require the offender to pick up litter or clean up graffiti at a time and place within the jurisdiction of the court for not less than eight hours for every one hundred dollars ($100) of fine suspended. The court may not suspend the order to pick up litter or clean up graffiti required by this subdivision or subdivision (b) except in unusual cases where the interest of justice would best be served by suspension of that order.

So, a minimum $100 fine and 8 hours of community service, from what I can tell.

-Citicop.

[marinepilot]

My child had thrown a 2mm popcorn out of the car and a policeman cited him. What is the penalty for throwing one two millimeter popcorn piece out of the car? The police let us go.

I'm confused, you said they cited him, which means, to me at least, they wrote him some type of citation or ticket if you will, yet then you say that they let you and your child go. A little further down from the first post, you again say they let you go. And then you ask what is going to happen?

Doesn't make any sense. If your child was cited, do what the citation tells you to do. If you were let go scott free, don't worry about it.

Hard to answer a question that contradicts itself....

[mcsap]

Also hard to believe that an officer would cite someone for a 2mm piece of popcorn.

[MikeG]

Also hard to believe that an officer would cite someone for a 2mm piece of popcorn.

I would doubt it would meet the requirements 23111 (lighted stuff, cigarrettes) or 23112 (dangerous or offensive) stuff. If he cited I bet he didn't believe the popcorn story.

[deputywave]

Give A Hoot, Don't Pollute!!

[greg72982]

CA law states that any piece of popcorn over 1mm cannot be thrown from any vehicle.

Same in PA, which is why I always have my tape measure handy.

[scott715us]

CA law states that any piece of popcorn over 1mm cannot be thrown from any vehicle.

Same in PA, which is why I always have my tape measure handy.

lmao

[JR180]

One time I was at the pond and this kid was feeding a goose some popcorn. All of a sudden the goose started making this God aweful noise like it was choking. I can only assume that it got one of those flakey pieces stuck on the back of its throat. I guess the moral of my story is that popcorn is dangerous and throwing it out of the window is not only negligant, but it is also sadistic.

For further reading on why littering popcorn is wrong check out this website on the dangers of that horrible substance: Microwave Popcorn Linked to Lung Harm