Got A Ticket For Littering

[turtlegirl]

Ugh. I got a ticket for littering this morning. Its my 4th ticket since I moved here. I'm starting to feel a little unlucky, except for all of those good things that keep happening to me, too!

Here's what happened. I was smoking on my way to school this morning, and when I was done, I realized that yesterday I cleaned out my car, and had cleaned out the ashtray but forgot to put it back. So I did something I almost never do, and dropped the butt out the window. Next time I glanced at the rearview mirror, there were flashy lights, and I was pulled over. I got a ticket for "littering from vehicle".

I know fully well that littering is a very bad thing to do, especially cigarette butts. However, I'm afraid that the judge (yeah, I got another court date) will hit me with some giant fine - because the law doesn't differentiate between my cig and someone throwing trash bags out the back of their truck while cruising along H3.

Anybody have any advice?

[tutusue]

[...]
Anybody have any advice?

Uh huh! <drum roll, please!> Stop littering!!! But, then, you knew I was gonna say that, right?!!! Seriously, TG, I don't think there's really any advice any of us can give you. At this point I think it's just a matter of you being more aware of what you're doing in the moment. IOW, the onus is on you and you might want to prepare yourself for that fine, whatever amount it is.

Unlucky? No! Now, had that 'roommate from hell' been in the passenger seat of your car and, during your drive to the airport to gleefully send her back to the mainland, she dropped the ciggie butt out the window, you got stopped and issued a ticket and she refused to pay it then...that'd be unlucky!

Have all the tickets been for littering? I seem to remember one was for having an open container (beer?) on the beach. Regardless, 4 tickets are a lot esp. in such a short amount of time.

[TuNnL]

I know fully well that littering is a very bad thing to do, especially cigarette butts. However, I'm afraid that the judge (yeah, I got another court date) will hit me with some giant fine - because the law doesn't differentiate between my cig and someone throwing trash bags out the back of their truck while cruising along H3.

Anybody have any advice?

Be thankful.

About a dozen years ago, I was driving my Mazda RX-7 and smoking a cigarette. Although I have always considered myself an environmentalist, at the time, I was a punk kid mad at the world because I couldn’t get into UH Mānoa and was forced to enroll in community college. I flicked my cigarette out the window, and no less than 10 seconds later, a loud Hawaiian riding shotgun in a truck driven by his huge samoan friend yelled, “What the f*#k are you littering for?!” Needless to say, it’s one thing to be tailed, but these guys drove side-by-side with me for nearly a mile, taunting and challenging me. I definitely feared for my safety.

At the time, I would have gladly taken a ticket for littering any day over that harrowing experience.

[craigwatanabe]

That's amazing. 44 years I've lived on Oahu and never got a single ticket for littering simply because I don't. 4 years on the Big Island and no ticket yet because...I don't.

Lesson learned here...if you don't want to get a ticket for littering...then don't.

[leashlaws]

I always wondered and hoped that there would be some penalty for that sort of behavior but I'd never witnessed it. I find it most reprehensible, I always wonder why people do that. I have to say because it's you TG I feel sorry for you - anybody else I'd say let
the fine be as high as possible. What a drag.......

[turtlegirl]

It's not something I would normally do. My only other choices were to start a small fire in my car with it, or set in my lap, thereby causing a small fire on my person. I don't want to justify my bad decision, only explain that at the time the cop was observing me, I was in the midst of a rock and a hard place. And the quick decision I made resulted in a ticket.

I am not a litterbug!! I just made a rah decision. I pick up trash all the time, at the beach and while out walking. I often pick up other peoples' cig butts and garbage. I want Hawaii to remain beautiful and trash free. I know that every piece of litter that doesn't make it to a trashcan will make its way into our ocean and onto our reef, or into the mouths of turtles or the blowholes of dolphins.

I would just prefer not to end up penalized in the same way that one would be treated if they were caught dumping an old water heater, a couch, and an entertainment center outta the back of his truck at the side of the road in the middle of the night.

[Stephen]

A couple Smoker's Secrets from a former and soon to be resident of da Aian.

Always carry a water bottle with a small amount of water in it for cigarette butts - it also helps with some of the smoky smell of the car (still reeks, but nowhere near as bad.) And be careful when after a long surf session, you don't accidentally drink the butt water - Nasty!

A trick if you don't have the bottle is to roll the butt in between your middle finger and thumb at the end of the filter (near the tobacco) with your hand out the window - the cherry will fall off and you'll just have dispose of the butt and no worries car fire.
Stephen

[buzz1941]

I see people toss butts out their windows all the time. Thrilled that a policeman actually acted. But yes, you're unlucky in this one.

[Ron Whitfield]

... you could, STOP SMOKING CIGARETTES.

Go to court, plead your case stating you've learned your lesson, and have given up ciggies and turned over a new tobacco leaf, promising to never litter again.

That would sway me, The Hangin' Judge.
Of course I'd have my baliff search your purse and smell your breath first.

[Seeking Penance]

That would sway me, The Hangin' Judge.
Of course I'd have my baliff search your purse and smell your breath first.

yah gonna have the baliff strip her naked and give her a cavity check for cigarettes too?

unfortunate turtlegirl - don't litter

i followed one guy all the way home from ualena st. by the airport to kaneohe - idiot drove by threw his cigarette butt out the window right next to our car......when we finally arrived in kaneohe...by the way he lives right across from temple valley.

i got out of the car - had the cigarette butt in my left hand and my bat in my right hand - walked right up to him and told him to take that butt he threw out the window on ualena st by the airport and dump it in his own trash can. he looked at me and hissed - i blew him a kiss and told him have a good evening with the bat still in my right hand. LOL

i dislike those who litter - please kokua

mahalo and malama pono

[matapule]

This is a perfect venue for talking about Polynesian style justice.

First TG, I want to compliment you for admitting your mistake and for taking the criticism with humility and dignity. You set a good example for all of us in honesty and taking responsibility for your actions.

The primary purpose of Polynesian justice is not harsh punishment but education and rehabilitation. As one of Fakatulolo's matapules (talking chief), I would often sit by his side and act as the intermediary between the offender and the judge, in this case Fakatulolo, in our village of Falevai. Although Falevai was made up of diverse families, the village was a close knit community of interdependent members. Peace and harmony in the village were more important in the long run than being right or wrong. As I gained more experience as a matapule, Fakatulolo would often ask me for advice about what the punishment should be for some transgression after listening to the evidence. You see, Fakatulolo was also testing me to see if I was worthy to be one of his matapules. Again, education and repayment of the transgression was more important than humiliation and vindictive retribution. I think I learned well the importance and nuances of Polynesian justice, because eventually Fakatulolo made me matapule for life with the matapule name, Mui Houma.

As matapule, TG, I have listened to the explanation of your mistake. I have read what others have said to you, which I think were heartfelt and for the most part an honest attempt to give you good advice. I think you have learned your lession. The sentence that I am going to give you is one to educate, two to rehabilitate, and three to make amends to your community. My sentence, if I were judging you in the village of Falevai, is that you perform community service by picking up trash alongside the road where you littered for a period of 4 hours.

My advice to you TG is that when you appear before the judge, you admit your mistake, offer an apology, and ask for community service by picking up trash alonside the road where you littered. Explain to the judge that you are a student with limited financial resources and that a fine would be a hardship. Tell him you are willing and happy to do community service to make amends. Any judge, worthy of being a matapule will grant your request.

Go in peace, my daughter, and litter no more.

[SusieMisajon]

A couple Smoker's Secrets from a former and soon to be resident of da Aian.

Always carry a water bottle with a small amount of water in it for cigarette butts - it also helps with some of the smoky smell of the car (still reeks, but nowhere near as bad.) And be careful when after a long surf session, you don't accidentally drink the butt water - Nasty!

A trick if you don't have the bottle is to roll the butt in between your middle finger and thumb at the end of the filter (near the tobacco) with your hand out the window - the cherry will fall off and you'll just have dispose of the butt and no worries car fire.
Stephen

And when you pick your nose, the same thing works...

[Stephen]

Susie,
When I first read your reply, I asked myself what?! And then I thought for a moment and I haven't stopped laughing!
Stephen

[turtlegirl]

i followed one guy all the way home from ualena st. by the airport to kaneohe - idiot drove by threw his cigarette butt out the window right next to our car......when we finally arrived in kaneohe...by the way he lives right across from temple valley.

i got out of the car - had the cigarette butt in my left hand and my bat in my right hand - walked right up to him and told him to take that butt he threw out the window on ualena st by the airport and dump it in his own trash can. he looked at me and hissed - i blew him a kiss and told him have a good evening with the bat still in my right hand. LOL

i dislike those who litter - please kokua

mahalo and malama pono

Whoa. Perhaps you have a lot of time on your hands to threaten violence towards people, but I don't think that that was a very cool thing to do, and you're lucky he didn't call the police.

[Stephen]

Ron,
I'm a little intoxicated, which is how I used to always post here and gathered so many friends . . . . . ..

I thought you were the voice of the Proletariat - shouldn't you be buying TG cigarettes?

Stephen

[Stephen]

Apparently I grazed over the one reply with the baseball bat . . .


not so true to the spirit of da Aina is it? baseball bat?

Stephen

[turtlegirl]

Thanks everyone for your stories and advice. Especially you, Matapule. That was some wise and kind advice.

I'm just very worried because I've seen those highway signs that say "$350 fine for littering". $350 is my next semester's tuition! I don't think its fair. But I will look into community service and find out if that's applicable. I have the same problem as before though - there's not a lot of info available online about traffic tickets.

[MyopicJoe]

Its my 4th ticket since I moved here.

You gotta turn down the cuteness factor, TG, so the cops stop checking you out and catching you being naughty.

By chance, are you blasting Sublime's "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" when drive by cops?

A trick if you don't have the bottle is to roll the butt in between your middle finger and thumb at the end of the filter (near the tobacco) with your hand out the window - the cherry will fall off and you'll just have dispose of the butt and no worries car fire.
Stephen

That's a good one, Stephen. I might just take up smoking, so I can use it!

Explain to the judge that you are a student with limited financial resources and that a fine would be a hardship. Tell him you are willing and happy to do community service to make amends.

I like that advice, Matapule.

you're lucky he didn't call the police.

I wonder if they give out tickets for terroristic threatening.

[matapule]

Whoa. Perhaps you have a lot of time on your hands to threaten violence towards people, but I don't think that that was a very cool thing to do, and you're lucky he didn't call the police.

SP is having a good time with everyone! Perhaps you aren't familiar with the language of an "alternate lifestyle!" "Baseball bat" is a euphemism for a........uhhhh......his.........do I have to draw you a picture? If SP walked up to me holding his "baseball bat" in his right hand, especially in the shower, I'd run yelling and screaming too!

[leashlaws]

That is good advice to request community service shows character. I can
imagine the judge though thinking "financial hardship" yet has the money
for cigarettes which are not cheap anymore.

[Ron Whitfield]

Had to look up both prolitariat and TG cigarettes...
No problem with the first, but, what are TG's? Nothing came up on google to identify that, but your post did(!). I havn't smoked (cigarettes) since high school.

Speaking of boogers...
Here's a tip for the next time you feel a cop is gonna write you up:
Make sure he see's you give a full two knuckle multi second plunge up your nose with a finger of your choice, and don't let him see you wipe it off. No cop will want to handle your license after that.
Trust me, it works.

[MyopicJoe]

"Baseball bat" is a euphemism for a........

Ahhh so. Could still be one lethal weapon, depending on how big da buggah stay. Single shot, or full auto. Rat-ta-tat-tat.

[Seeking Penance]

SP is having a good time with everyone! Perhaps you aren't familiar with the language of an "alternate lifestyle!" "Baseball bat" is a euphemism for a........uhhhh......his.........do I have to draw you a picture? If SP walked up to me holding his "baseball bat" in his right hand, especially in the shower, I'd run yelling and screaming too!

lol <g> thanks matapule - now you are typing my language!!!!

aaawww turtle girl!!!! that was a....nice thing to do....what isn't nice is throwing out a cigarette butt while you are in the car...that cigarette butt landing on our car....now that's not nice....i did him a favor by politely telling him to place that butt in his trash and not on our car ...maybe he'll think twice this time around before throwing cig butts out of his car while driving!!! that is just not a pono thing to do

it wasn't in a threatning manner politely told him to place it in his own trash..the bat was self defense if he came at me....it was better me than my vicious waianae cousin in the car

although i was hoping we would exchange phone numbers...but he hissed instead

period?....please kokua....period!

mahalo turtlegirl and i hope it works out in your favor in the end....have a pleasant tomorrow

i'm a friendly fag not a fighter!!!!

[Seeking Penance]

Ahhh so. Could still be one lethal weapon, depending on how big da buggah stay. Single shot, or full auto. Rat-ta-tat-tat.

ya'll just nasty

*laughs*

[Vanguard]

I'm just glad HPD is this vigilant regarding litter. I've never even heard of anyone getting a littering ticket elsewhere.