DGT Warns Drivers: Cigarette Butts Thrown from Vehicles Now Carry €500 Fine and 6-Point Penalty
The Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic has increased penalties for throwing objects from vehicles, imposing a 500-euro fine and six-point license deduction for discarding cigarette butts to prevent accidents and wildfires.
With summer approaching, the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) is stepping up its efforts to warn drivers about the dangers of holiday travel. Beyond reminding motorists to keep their vehicles well-maintained, the agency is cracking down on reckless behavior that threatens both road safety and the environment.
Under current traffic laws, throwing any object from a vehicle that could endanger others or cause a fire is considered a serious offense. Specifically, discarding a cigarette butt from a car now carries a 500-euro fine and the loss of six points from your driver’s license. These penalties also apply to littering in general, which poses a significant risk to vulnerable road users like cyclists and motorcyclists.
The DGT is also warning against smoking while driving, as it distracts the driver and slows down reaction times. If throwing an object leads to a traffic accident or a forest fire, the consequences become much more severe, potentially leading to criminal charges.
The urgency of this warning is backed by data from the Ministry of the Environment, which shows that nearly 21,000 fires over the last decade—about 3% of the total—were linked to cigarette butts thrown from vehicles. The DGT is calling on all drivers to act responsibly, reminding everyone that road safety and environmental protection are shared duties that require following the rules.