39-14-502 - Offense of littering. - Tennessee Statutes

39-14-502. Offense of littering.

(a)  A person commits littering who:

     (1)  Knowingly places, drops or throws litter on any public or private property without permission and does not immediately remove it;

     (2)  Negligently places or throws glass or other dangerous substances on or adjacent to water to which the public has access for swimming or wading, or on or within fifty feet (50¢) of a public highway; or

     (3)  Negligently discharges sewage, minerals, oil products or litter into any public waters or lakes within this state.

(b)  Whenever litter is placed, dropped, or thrown from any motor vehicle, boat, airplane, or other conveyance in violation of this section, the trier of fact may, in its discretion and in consideration of the totality of the circumstances, infer that the operator of the conveyance has committed littering.

(c)  Whenever litter discovered on public or private property is found to contain any article or articles, including, but not limited to, letters, bills, publications, or other writings that display the name of a person in such a manner as to indicate that the article belongs or belonged to that person, the trier of fact may, in its discretion and in consideration of the totality of the circumstances, infer that the person has committed littering.

[Acts 2007, ch. 595, § 1.]