A Melbourne man has been left more than a thousand dollars out of pocket after he ended up in court for tossing a burning cigarette from a car.
The Craigieburn resident was ordered to cough up a total of $1,120 for his littering after recently appearing before the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court.
His financial penalty included a $730 fine, while the magistrate also made him pay out $380 in costs.
The man was witnessed throwing the burning cigarette from a Honda sedan on Sydney Road in Campbellfield, in Melbourne’s north.
On May 19, the witness reported the man to the EPA Victoria’s 24-hour pollution hotline.
The man was issued with a littering fine by the EPA, leading to the matter landing in court.
In a statement following the court decision, the EPA said “cigarette butts are the most common form of litter, 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”.
The EPA has urged residents to continue to report pollution to the 24-hour hotline which can be contacted on 1300 372 842.
Reports can also be made online through the EPA’s website.
