ILLINOIS—In an effort to clean up the trash in the state of Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation on August 16 adding improper cigarette disposal to the state’s Litter Control Act. The newly added litter law will take affect on January 1, 2014 in which, if you were to carelessly throw/flick a cigarette butt out your window of your car or on the ground, a person can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor for littering.
On top of it the smoker could be fined a maximum of $1,500 and face up to 180 days in jail. The statute also says that a judge could require a person who disregards the law, (especially by failing to comply with a law that is difficult to enforce effectively) could be subject to pick up litter for up to 30 days along an assigned stretch of road.
In addition the same fine applies for a second offense, but if a person is caught a third time it becomes a Class 4 felony, which entitles a $25,000 fine and imprisonment not less than one year and not more than three years.