Could you be making same costly mistake as this Aussie driver? $790 at risk!
- Replies 20
As Australians, we're no strangers to our sunburnt country's harsh and often unforgiving conditions.
With bushfire seasons becoming increasingly intense, it's more important than ever to be mindful of our actions and their potential to spark disaster.
This message was brought into sharp focus recently when a Victorian motorist was caught on camera in a dangerous act that could have cost them a hefty $790 fine.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, showing the driver nonchalantly flicking a partially lit cigarette onto a busy Melbourne road.
The backlash was immediate and fierce, with many online commentators branding the act as 'vile' and irresponsible, especially in a city where rubbish bins are readily available.
The original post that captured the incident attracted a flood of responses, with people criticising the potential fire hazard and highlighting the broader impact of littering on wildlife and the environment.
'Lit cigarette out the window—expect a letter from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),' warned the person who shared the footage, which depicted the Holden driver discarding the cigarette while stopped at a red light.
In Victoria, the EPA enforces strict penalties for littering, including fines of almost $800 for smokers caught dumping their cigarette butts.
An EPA spokesperson emphasised that littering from a car or vehicle is strictly forbidden, and drivers are also responsible for the behaviour of their passengers.
'The video appears to show someone littering, and we encourage the person who witnessed it to report it to EPA officially,' the spokesperson said.
'Smoking can be expensive, but littering can be worse. EPA issues around 10,000 litter fines a year, many of them for cigarette butts.'
Cigarette butts, the most common type of litter, often end up in drains and waterways, eventually making their way to the bay.
More alarmingly, lit cigarettes can ignite bushfires if they land in grassy or bush areas.
The fines for littering in Victoria range from $395 for small items like a cigarette butt or food packaging to $790 for lit cigarettes or other 'dangerous' goods.
Corporations face even steeper fines, with penalties of $1,976 for small items and up to $3,952 for dangerous litter.
The online community has been vocal in condemning the 'grubby' behaviour of the Melbourne driver.
One smoker commenter expressed frustration: 'You literally have a portable bin with you (your smoke packet). It's not hard to flick an ember off, kill it, then put your butt back in the box.'
The risks are exceptionally high during the hot, dry Australian summers. 'Imagine if this was peak summer, 40C, and out in the regional towns where it's scorched and overgrown as s*** —a lit/discarded cig is all it takes to go up in flames,' another person pointed out.
Firefighters have noted multiple bush and grassfires ignited by discarded cigarettes in recent years.
One such potential disaster was averted last November thanks to the quick actions of an observant Aussie.
As we face another week of heatwave conditions across the country, with severe warnings in place for parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, the message is clear: the cost of carelessness can be much more than a fine. It can be catastrophic.
Have you witnessed similar reckless behaviour? How do you ensure you're not contributing to the problem? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below.
With bushfire seasons becoming increasingly intense, it's more important than ever to be mindful of our actions and their potential to spark disaster.
This message was brought into sharp focus recently when a Victorian motorist was caught on camera in a dangerous act that could have cost them a hefty $790 fine.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, showing the driver nonchalantly flicking a partially lit cigarette onto a busy Melbourne road.
The backlash was immediate and fierce, with many online commentators branding the act as 'vile' and irresponsible, especially in a city where rubbish bins are readily available.
A lit cigarette was flicked onto a busy Melbourne road, raising concerns over bushfire risks and environmental impact. Credit: Reddit
The original post that captured the incident attracted a flood of responses, with people criticising the potential fire hazard and highlighting the broader impact of littering on wildlife and the environment.
'Lit cigarette out the window—expect a letter from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),' warned the person who shared the footage, which depicted the Holden driver discarding the cigarette while stopped at a red light.
In Victoria, the EPA enforces strict penalties for littering, including fines of almost $800 for smokers caught dumping their cigarette butts.
An EPA spokesperson emphasised that littering from a car or vehicle is strictly forbidden, and drivers are also responsible for the behaviour of their passengers.
'The video appears to show someone littering, and we encourage the person who witnessed it to report it to EPA officially,' the spokesperson said.
'Smoking can be expensive, but littering can be worse. EPA issues around 10,000 litter fines a year, many of them for cigarette butts.'
Cigarette butts, the most common type of litter, often end up in drains and waterways, eventually making their way to the bay.
More alarmingly, lit cigarettes can ignite bushfires if they land in grassy or bush areas.
The fines for littering in Victoria range from $395 for small items like a cigarette butt or food packaging to $790 for lit cigarettes or other 'dangerous' goods.
Corporations face even steeper fines, with penalties of $1,976 for small items and up to $3,952 for dangerous litter.
The online community has been vocal in condemning the 'grubby' behaviour of the Melbourne driver.
One smoker commenter expressed frustration: 'You literally have a portable bin with you (your smoke packet). It's not hard to flick an ember off, kill it, then put your butt back in the box.'
The risks are exceptionally high during the hot, dry Australian summers. 'Imagine if this was peak summer, 40C, and out in the regional towns where it's scorched and overgrown as s*** —a lit/discarded cig is all it takes to go up in flames,' another person pointed out.
Firefighters have noted multiple bush and grassfires ignited by discarded cigarettes in recent years.
One such potential disaster was averted last November thanks to the quick actions of an observant Aussie.
As we face another week of heatwave conditions across the country, with severe warnings in place for parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, the message is clear: the cost of carelessness can be much more than a fine. It can be catastrophic.
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