Cigarette butts on the ground: fines start tomorrow. And they'll be hefty.

CIGARETTE BUTTS FINE –

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday , February 2nd, things get serious. New regulations come into force , punishing anyone who throws a cigarette butt in the street, on sidewalks, or in public parks with fines from traffic police . A fine of €60 to €300 should suffice as a deterrent to this wasteful, uncivilized habit.

ALSO READ: A Sicilian pensioner's wonderful initiative to rid the beach of cigarette butts.

WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES –

The law, which also serves to discourage the sadly rising smoking rate, also includes an absolute ban on smoking in cars while driving, and in any case when a minor or pregnant woman is in the car . Fines can range from 50 to 500 euros.

What can we say? We oppose overly punitive and persistent regulations, even on such basic civic behaviors. But this law was essential, given that Italy is now throwing away, every year, some 72 billion cigarette butts, 40 percent of which end up polluting the sea and beaches.

DO NOT THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS ON THE GROUND –

At this point, two things are needed . The first concerns the traffic police, who will have to enforce the rules . Let's hope they do so with the same zeal with which they hand out tickets to motorists. The second, however, refers to the need for ashtrays to be installed . The law also states this, referring to "frequent containers," with necessarily generic wording. One way to do this is to use the proceeds from fines to provide streets with designer ashtrays and improve the cleanliness of sidewalks. There would be no better way to spend the money earned thanks to uncivilized citizens.

TO KNOW MORE: The second life of cigarette butts, no longer on the ground but in our closets