HB1367: Cigarettes; deemed litter for purposes of criminal punishment for improper disposal of trash.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1367
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 33.1-346 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
33.1-346. Dumping trash, companion animals, etc., on highway, right-of-way, or private property; penalty.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, cigarettes, a companion animal for the purpose of disposal, or other unsightly matter, on public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner thereof or his agent. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. When any If a
person is arrested for a violation of this section, and the matter alleged to
have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected from a motor vehicle
or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the arresting officer
may comply with the provisions of 46.2-936 in making such arrest.
When a violation of the provisions of this section has been
observed by any person, and the matter illegally dumped or disposed of has been is
ejected or removed from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of such motor
vehicle shall be is
rebuttably presumed to be the person ejecting or disposing
of such matter. However,
such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.
C. Any person convicted of a
violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by
confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not less than
$250 or more than $2,500, either or both.
In lieu of the imposition of
confinement in jail the criminal penalty in
subsection A, the court may order the defendant to perform
community service in litter abatement activities,
provided that if the offense involves a cigarette or cigarettes, the court
shall order the payment of a $100 civil penalty payable to the Litter Control
and Recycling Fund established in 10.1-1422.01 in addition to the imposition
of such community service.
D. The governing bodies of counties, cities and towns are hereby authorized to adopt ordinances not in conflict with the provisions of this section, and may repeal, amend or modify such ordinances.
E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful disposal of such matter in landfills.