§ 39-14-503 — Offense of mitigated criminal littering

(a) Mitigated criminal littering is littering in an amount less than or equal to five pounds (5 lbs.) in weight or seven and one-half (7.5) cubic feet in volume. (b) Mitigated criminal littering is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) and as provided in subsections (c) and (d). (c) A person charged with a violation of this section may, in lieu of appearance in court, submit the applicable five hundred dollar ($500) fine to the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the offense within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed. A person paying in this manner is not subject to subsection (d), and, in the discretion of the judge, may be excused from paying court costs for the offense. (d) In addition to the penalties established in this section, the court shall require a person convicted under this section to remove litter from the state or local highway system, public playgrounds, public parks or other appropriate public locations for not more than forty (40) hours. The court, in its discretion, may also require a person convicted under this section to work in a recycling center or other appropriate location for any stated period of time not to exceed eight (8) hours.

Legislative History

Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 899, s 2, eff. 7/1/2022. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 899, s 1, eff. 7/1/2022. Acts 2007 , ch. 595, § 1.