The question: What is the punishment for throwing cigarette butts out the window of a vehicle?

The answer: According to Sgt. Bob Brooks of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station, first time offenders must pay $100, second time offenders $500 and third time offenders $750. The trash throwers also will have to pay court costs, Brooks said.

In addition to the fine, authorities could give offenders a minimum of eight hours of trash pick up duty for the first offense, a minimum of 16 hours for a second offense and a minimum of 24 hours for the third time, according to Brooks.

"If you actually cause a fire, under the health and safety code it's pretty much the same offense," Brooks said. "But it's considered a misdemeanor."

The law is difficult to enforce because officers have to see the offense to ticket someone, Brooks said. He added that Lost Hills doesn't ticket many people for throwing cigarette butts out the window of their vehicles.

Officers don't usually target motorists throwing cigarette butts out of vehicles, but the station's arson unit does look for such behavior during fire season, said Brooks.

Have a traffic-related question or concern? Send it to "Acorn Traffic Man" in care of the address on page 4 or by email to pic@theacorn.com. We'll try to respond as soon as possible.