City May Get More Serious About Those Who Litter Cigarette Butts

It's not just food trucks that annoy Councilmember Tom LaBonge, but also people who dispose of their cigarette butts on the sidewalk, in the streets or wherever else they shouldn't go (and rightly so). He's been ragging on the issue for years and will even approach you if he witnesses it (once at a red light, he said he got out of his car to talk to a driver in front of him).

So why don't police enforce it? Because it appears to be a fruitless effort. "I've been told that judges don't impose this because of the high fee," LaBonge said today at a City Council meeting, referring to the $500 fine. He thinks the ticket should be the same as a street sweeping ticket, which is $60. Perhaps, then, police would take the time to write littering tickets because judges would finally be comfortable with the fine. Councilmember Jose Huizar said something may be coming down the line that will appease LaBonge.