What is the penalty for littering from a vehicle, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 24 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 27 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 5 and 9 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | (c)(1) Whoever willfully and knowingly operates, owns, or causes to be operated on a public highway, road, street, or public right-of-way, a motor vehicle in any manner or in any condition that litter is caused or allowed to be deposited upon the highway, road, or street or public right-of-way, is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor pursuant to Section 13A-7-29, the criminal littering statute. (2) The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. | Alabama law, Ala. Code § 32-5-76(c) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Alaska | The penalty for littering in Alaska is a fine up to $1000, up to 90 days in jail, and possibly a court order to gather litter. | Alaska Driver Manual, p.91 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Arkansas | In Arkansas, a first littering conviction can bring a fine of up to $1,000. | Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, p.10 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Florida | Throwing litter of up to 15 pounds onto a roadway can bring a $100 fine. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.27 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | (d) The court shall fine the person convicted of committing the offense of littering at least $100, but not more than $500. | Hawaii law, Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-132(d) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Indiana | (a) A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally places or leaves refuse on property of another person, except in a container provided for refuse, commits littering, a Class B infraction. However, the offense is a Class A infraction if the refuse: (1) is placed or left in, on, or within one hundred (100) feet of a body of water that is under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources or United States Army Corps of Engineers; or (2) is placed in a cave (as defined in IC 35-43-1-2). Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4(a), a judgment of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be imposed for each Class A infraction committed under this section. | Indiana law, Ind. Code § 35-45-3-2(a) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Iowa | (2) For a violation under section 321.446, the scheduled fine is one hundred thirty-five dollars. d. Litter and debris violations. For violations under sections 321.369 and 321.370, the scheduled fine is ninety dollars. e. Open container violations. For violations under sections 321.284 and 321.284A, the scheduled fine is two hundred sixty dollars. | Iowa law, Iowa Code § 805.8A(14)(2) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Louisiana | A first offense of simple littering can bring a $150 fine or 8 hours of community service. | Class D & E Driver's Guide, p.14 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Maryland | Littering up to 100 pounds, not for gain, is a misdemeanor with up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,500, or both. | Maryland law, Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-110(f) | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Section 22G. The registrar may, after due hearing, suspend for a period not exceeding seven days the license or permit to operate motor vehicles or the right of a person to operate motor vehicles in the commonwealth of any person who litters, or who knowingly permits, as the operator, occupants of his vehicle to litter, public or private property through the disposal of trash or garbage from said motor vehicle. | Massachusetts law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 22G | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | A judge who finds you guilty of littering may impose a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail. | Missouri Driver Guide, p.34 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Montana | (3) A person convicted of violating subsection (1) or (2) shall be fined a maximum of $500. | Montana law, Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-372(3) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Nebraska | (4) A person who commits the offense of littering shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor. A person convicted of the offense of littering for the second time shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor. A person convicted of the offense of littering for the third or a subsequent time shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor. | Nebraska law, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-523(4) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New Hampshire | IV. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person, or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person. | New Hampshire law, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265:102(IV) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New Jersey | a. No person shall throw or drop any bundle, object, article or debris of any nature from a vehicle whether in motion or not when such vehicle is on a highway. The words "object, article or debris of any nature" as used in this section shall be deemed to include a cigarette, cigar, match, or ashes, or any substance or thing in and of itself likely to cause or fuel a fire, but such inclusion shall not be deemed to in any way limit the generality of the words "object, article or debris of any nature." Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $1,000 for each offense. | New Jersey law, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 39:4-64(a) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| North Carolina | When litter is thrown or blown from a vehicle, the driver is held responsible; a first conviction carries a fine of at least $250 and up to $1,000, and a second within three years $500 to $2,000. | North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.95 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota, throwing or depositing litter on any public highway can bring a $500 fine. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.27 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | (C) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. | Ohio law, Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.82(C) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | The anti-littering law makes it illegal to throw waste from a vehicle, and a violation, including one by any passenger, may bring a fine of up to $300. | PA Driver's Manual, p.92 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Littering on public or private roadways or property is a violation, with a fine of $85 to $1,000. | Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.58 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | Besides a fine, a person who breaks the litter law can be directed to pick up litter along the roadsides under the supervision of the court. | South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Tennessee | Littering is against Tennessee law, and fines start at $50 and can go up to $3,000, based on the amount of litter. | Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.46 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3), an individual who violates any of the provisions of Section 41-6a-1712 is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined: (a) not less than $200 for a violation; or (b) not less than $500 for a second or subsequent violation within three years of a previous violation of this section. | Utah law, Utah Code § 41-6a-1713(1) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| West Virginia | (c) In addition to any penalty imposed for littering under the provisions of article fifteen-a, chapter twenty-two of this code, any driver of a motor vehicle or other conveyance convicted of violating this section shall have three points assessed against his or her driver's license. | West Virginia law, W. Va. Code § 17C-14-14(c) | 9 Oct 2026 |
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No rule found
No rule found in the manual or code of: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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