23-111

[tugrik]

On Tuesday I was headed back from a dinner out with reality_fox and revar at McCarthy ranch, riding on my goldwing. As I headed through the tunnel of the 17s->85s exit ramp, a motorist in a red car flicked his cigarette out of his window. It sailed expertly upwards, around my windshield, and impacted my face-shield in a glorious shower of sparks. I was notably pissed and gave them a brief flash of the brights to let them know that someone was back there, but nothing more. I thought about many rude gestures, but I kept my cool. Then it occurred to me... hey, they have a license plate number and I'm close enough to read it...

I got home and jotted it on the whiteboard. Not only is throwing a cigarette from a moving car littering, it's also a special no-no in the Bay Area. They've made laws about cig-butts in particular due to the number of roadside fires started that way. The Sunol Grade and suchlike areas burn at least once every other year due to motorists. I tried calling 311 (the non-emergency police number) but their phone-maze was anti-obvious in where to report it. Instead I went to their website and used their "cybercop" system to jot a quick email note about it, with the car's license plate.

Today they both emailed and called me back. They reaaaaly want to talk to this fellow. It seems they're cracking down on what they call "23-111" violations -- items thrown from a moving vehicle. My guess is that they want to hammer it into people's skulls while it's still wet and low-risk outside, to help the "please don't" sink in before it's all dry and tinderboxy this sumimer. I feel a little guilty somehow 'turning someone in' like this, but at the same time it's a constant motorcycling hazard that really should get dealt with. I'm already no fan of smokers and having their waste bouncing off my head really cuts it. Were I little less experienced of a biker it could have caused me to panic or weave unsafely.

If you've ever travelled on two wheels you're probably experienced some form of this. For those of you who toss butts out the window without thinking it's a problem, you should see it from a motorcycler's viewpoint. The smouldering cig gets a nice burst of oxygen and usually breaks open when it hits the ground at speed, making for a nice sparky blossom that ruins paint, singes riding jackets, or (if my face-shield had been up) can burn skin. At night it's pretty freaky, actually. I may feel guilty for a little bit... but I still hope the guy gets a ticket.

Comments

[kynn.livejournal.com]

I feel a little guilty somehow 'turning someone in' like this, but at the same time it's a constant motorcycling hazard that really should get dealt with.

You shouldn't feel guilty. That kinda of stuff can seriously endanger motorcyclists, other people in cars, wildlife, and peoples' homes.

Never feel guilty about doing the right thing.

--Kynn

Crotch!

[storm-dragon.livejournal.com]

I've always had a little fantasy about being able to catch the cig and toss it back in their window so they could jump around trying to keep their crotch from lighting on fire. Cars do come with ashtrays still, so to my mind this is just an example of selfishness. They don't want to sully up the inside of their car, but they'll trash up the road and let someone else clean up after them.

On a similar note, I'll just mention that I mowed alongside the road a couple months ago. Gods, the stuff I ran over. I'll have to amuse everyone by taking pictures next time.

[kategod.livejournal.com]

You just have to love people who think that the world is their ash tray. By the way, what kind of goldwing do you have? My father was extremely interested in getting one of those back before he died. Kept saying it felt like he was sitting in some kind of cushy chair when riding it ;p

I think that was great you turned him in. People won't give a damn about what the law is until they get caught for doing something really stupid like that. That and that could have, you know, taken out your eyes or burned you pretty bad if you hadn't been wearing a helmet.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

I've had someone throw a lit cigarette at me quite deliberately (they were looking at me and aiming) while I was on my bike, so yes, destroy them. Salt the earth afterward. 'Let No One Live.'

[wordslinger.livejournal.com]

I think it's the right thing to do, frankly.

I've noticed that we're all moving away from an attitude of "the world is our personal garbage dump and we can do what we like to the animals and everything else" to a more mature attitude. The cigarette flicker is a selfish person, who shows little sympathy or awareness of others and the environment.

Yes, he or she needs a thwap.

(g) It's like griping to the wizcorps about someone harrassing another person... only, in this case, the environment can't speak up for itself.

[kiala.livejournal.com]

I'm currently upset at parts of California's legal system, due to the fact that a simple practical joke and a false claim by a minor has a good friend unjustly held in a maximum security prison with no court date and no chance of release.. And even so, I think what you did was perfectly reasonable..

[spotweld.livejournal.com]

Techy Question:

Since its sometimes difficult to remember a plate number and sometimes impossible to jot it down, how tough would it be to have a small digital camera pointing forward over the main light (or some other location).

Someone flips back a cig, swerves around the road.. etc. You have a pic of the car and the plate. I know I've wanted to do this when I've driving in my car and been cutoff from the inside lane a few times.

If you could make it detachable it could come in handy for minor bang-ups too. (At least it would prevent inflated insurance claims).

Thoughts?

[scyllacat.livejournal.com]

Riding out west, seeing the in-car ashtrays at the truck stops, I thought, that's a good idea, probably brush fire risks out here... and now I have one, "for those who choose to smoke."

So, my own pet peeve of myself has been greatly reduced, in that I don't throw nass'y butts out the window no more (although on deserted highways late at night the "fireworks" out the back window are purty).

Also, didja hear? The county I live in (Dekalb) is now the first in Ga. to go the Califreaky way on smoking: no smoking in any buildings open to the public, including diners, bars, and clubs.

[amilori.livejournal.com]

Having helped put out more than a few such roadside brush/grass fires, I'd like to thank you for taking the time and effort to help prevent more of them.