One of the new laws in the New Year makes it even more of a crime toss your cigarette butts. The fine is now $1500.
Lori Gummow, executive director of Loves Park-based Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, says police tell her they’ll make an effort to enforce this.
“They informed me that when it’s only fifty dollars, it’s really not worth their time,” says Gummow, citing the time it takes to proceed through everything involved in someone challenging a ticket. “They said for a $1500 fine, it’s definitely worth their time to pursue those.”
Gummow, who has been in her position for more than 25 years, says even in our fast-food society, and even with fewer people smoking than in past decades, cigarette butts remain the Number One thing that people litter.