41-6a-1712. Destructive or injurious materials on highways -- Throwing lighted material from moving vehicle -- Enforcement officers.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/7/2025

(1)As used in this section, "lighted material" means an item that is flaming, burning, or smoking, including lighted charcoal, fireworks, matches, tobacco, cigars, or cigarettes.

(2)A person may not throw, deposit, or discard, or permit to be dropped, thrown, deposited, or discarded on any public road or highway in the state, whether under state, county, municipal, or federal ownership, any plastic container, glass bottle, glass, nails, tacks, wire, cans, barbed wire, boards, trash or garbage, paper or paper products, or any other substance which would or could:

(a)create a safety or health hazard on the public road or highway; or

(b)mar or impair the scenic aspect or beauty of the public road or highway.

(3)A person who drops, throws, deposits, or discards, or permits to be dropped, thrown, deposited, or discarded, on any public road or highway any destructive, injurious, or unsightly material shall:

(a)immediately remove the material or cause it to be removed; and

(b)deposit the material in a receptacle designed to receive the material.

(4)A person distributing commercial handbills, leaflets, or other advertising shall take whatever measures are reasonably necessary to keep the material from littering public roadways or highways.

(5)A person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a public road or highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped from the vehicle on the road or highway.

(6)A person may not throw any lighted material from a moving vehicle.

(7)Except as provided in Section 72-7-409 , any person transporting loose cargo by truck, trailer, or other motor vehicle shall secure the cargo in a reasonable manner to prevent the cargo from littering or spilling on both public and private property or public roadways.

(8)A law enforcement officer as defined in Section 53-13-103 , within the law enforcement officer's jurisdiction:

(a)shall enforce the provisions of this section;

(b)may issue citations to a person who violates any of the provisions of this section; and

(c)may serve and execute all warrants, citations, and other process issued by any court in enforcing this section.

(9)A municipality within its corporate limits and a county outside of incorporated municipalities may enact local ordinances to carry out the provisions of this section.

Amended by Chapter 393 , 2025 General Session