Careless Smokers

The last paragraph you say that you chose to call the number on the side of the company vehicle.

As a professional driver, I am aware that my actions are a reflection of peoples perception of the company I work for.

Also, you may not be aware, a company vehicle is considered a workplace by Worksafe B.C. and I believe is required to be a non-smoking environment.

I seem to remember here in the Grand Forks area in 2003 when we had fires to the South and West of us that the RCMP actually laid charges for "releasing a burning substance to the environment" when a smoker was observed throwing out a lit cigarette.

I think the penalty was in excess of $300.00. Is my memory of the charge and penalty correct?

This article gives one the impression that an ordinary citizen can call police or another agency and expect charges to be laid if they see someone throwing a cigarette out of their car window. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our judicial system works on the basis of impartial evidence. If a citizen stood up in court and said he saw so and so throw a cigarette out a car window all the defendant would need to do is deny it and that would be the end of the case. It would simply be your word against mine and that does not work in court. Cheers

This is obviously a message that needs to get out. Somehow, despite the "extreme fire hazard" warning signs everywhere, the smoke in the sky from forest fires, and seeing all the dry grass in the medians, I still see people doing this daily.

The consequences of starting a fire are pretty severe during this hot and dry season, but here's something a lot of people may not have thought of... As a motorcycle rider, I've had to dodge many a smoldering butt being tossed out on our roadways from the driver in front of me.

While a smoking driver may not think much of discarding their butt, when that driver is in front of a motorcycle and throws their butt out the window, it quite literally becomes a flaming projectile headed straight for the rider! If I swerve to miss it, I'm putting myself at risk. If I don't, and it hits me, I'm again at risk.

Please think of these things before you choose to chuck that butt!

If you must smoke in your vehicle, please use your ashtray! When you dump your ashtray, please do so in an appropriate way too, not in the ditch, in the dry grass, or on the road. Exercise common sense and common courtesy.

Shouldn't that read...Careless People who smoke ? 'Careless Smokers' seems to imply that all smokers are careless.....which isn't the case.  It's as silly as saying Careless Non-Smokers because of those who toss their candy wrapper on the ground.

I am a smoker.  I have never and will never used the earth as my personal ashtray.  I have never and will never throw a lit OR UN-lit butt onto the ground...even in my own yard. 

As for the idiots who would throw a lit butt out their car window at any time or place, but particularly in fire season...'careless' is an understatement. 

motogirl's post is quite valid.  More than a few times I've been tangled up with a lit butt caught in my helmet and/or clothes. Diving for the shoulder to get your helmet off before your hair catches fire is not fun.

In one instance, I didn't see the fire missile and it caught in my brand new jacket.  Fed by a 60 kph wind, it didn't take long to burn a whole front panel out of my $350 jacket. My error was to not get the license plate number.

Observations of stupid motorists is a daily occurrence unfortunately. Calling the police is really not an option when your cell phone is off and buried under layers of clothing. But I have been known to ride up alongside at a stop light and make some direct references to a driver's habits and parentage.