OC for ME
Regular Member
OK. Got it. As you can see severity is not a component of the statute in MO. At what point will my consent to litter my property not be permissible? Other states may be different.I think we are using different terms to describe the same thing.
Littering is morally wrong, as you say. I used the word victims to describe those who have to see its detrimental impact on clean environments that we enjoy.
I did not say I would call cops and swear out warrants for candy bar wrappers. If I were a cop, I would be glad to write a ticket if I observed someone purposely throw one out a window. I would not pull over a pickup because one blew out of its back end unless he had a pile of them that were constantly doing so. The intent to litter is morally wrong and I have no problem with penalties.
Littering can be malum en se.
I used the word victim in the loose generic sense, if it also has a legal definition. If I used the word crime, I was doing the same, and not attempting to label the severity of the wrongness.
Liberty is at risk with criminal litter statutes.