The Exception to Littering Laws?

I was under the impression that throwing any sort of trash onto the ground is considered littering. People are much more conscious about this sort of thing this day in age - in most (most...not all) areas there isn't an excessive amount of litter, but I've noticed that anywhere I go there are cigarette butts disposed all over the place.

What Gives?

At what point do people think its ok to throw cigarette butts on the street or sidewalk? Most of these people don't throw other trash on the street...soooo...I guess since it would be inconvenient and smelly to keep the butts in the ashtray it makes it ok to ditch them anywhere but inside the car? The worst is when someone throws a cigarette out that is still lit (usually while at a stop light/in traffic). Now it is sitting next to my car smoldering and I have to deal with the smell for longer.

I don't smoke and surely don't enjoy inhaling smoke, which is why it is so irritating when someone in the car in front of me is smoking and I have to deal with the smell and discomfort. Believe it or not, the smoke that is coming out of their car conveniently gets sucked right into my heater/air conditioner and into my car. All of a sudden I'm smoking while on my way to work...but I don't smoke. DAMNIT! People don't realize it, but smoke is an allergen which effects some people more than others. For me it's like getting an instant cold - my nose starts running and my eyes get itchy. It sucks. I guess its a free country, right?

Seeing someone throw their depleted cigarette out their window is the icing on the cake - it absolutely kills me. Once I'm old and have enough money to retire, I think I'm going to drive around aimlessly - when I'm in traffic/stopped and see someone throw a butt out their window, I'm going to jump out of my car, pick up the butt and throw it back in their car and say, "You dropped that! Be more careful next time!" I'm sure it won't go over well 95% of the time, but I think I'll get my point across.

Do me a favor: If you're a smoker and smoke in your car...keep the butts in your ashtray. To be blunt, its a dirty habit so if you don't like having your car smell like dirty cigarettes, don't smoke in your car. Pretty simple concept, I think. If someone has a better excuse for this practice I'd absolutely love to hear it.