Smokers dropping lit cigarette butts could receive a $173 fine

Smokers who drop lit or smouldering cigarette butts could face a $173 fine under the Provincial Wildfire Act.

With the extreme weather across the province, these cigarettes could start a raging fire in only a few minutes.

“There are laws in effect to deter this activity and we are enforcing them. It should also be noted the laws apply to not only drivers of motor vehicles but their passengers, cyclists and pedestrians alike,” said Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

Under the Provincial Wildfire Act it is prohibited to ‘drop, release or mishandle a burning substance’. If the item is not lit, but thrown from a vehicle, you could also be fined $81 for littering under the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act or through a municipal bylaw. In the City of Nanaimo that carries a $100 fine.

Nanaimo RCMP say if you see someone disposing of a lit cigarette, call them on their non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and provide the following information: plate number of the vehicle, vehicle description and the description of the driver. Also, what direction the vehicle was travelling and its last known location.

If you have any questions, contact the Nanaimo RCMP Community Policing Section at 250-755-3257.