Open Letter To The Bismarck Woman Who Flicked A Lit Cig

Flicking a lit cigarette out your window. It's disgusting and dangerous.

I have witnessed several incidents over the last few years of careless people flicking lit cigarettes out of their windows.

One of them, on a particularly dry fall back in 2022, I literally had to jump out of my truck on Yegen Road south of the airport. A ditch went up in flames rather quickly, and my instincts kicked in. Read more about that in the link below.

(SEE ALSO: Discarded lit cigarette starts fire next to the airport.)

Well, it happened again.

Just last week a woman flicked a lit cigarette out of her vehicle on University right next to the airport and the butt landed perfectly on the hood of my pickup truck. All I could think of was the lit cigarette somehow finding something explosive in my vehicle.

The wind then grabbed the lit cancer stick and moved it somewhere. This really left a bad taste in my mouth. As bad as cigarette breath.

Thankfully, nothing bad happened, but how reckless. I followed this woman home in a small white SUV as she ironically lived in my development south of Lincoln.

First off, if you are going to smoke, don't litter your cigarette butts out your window.

Numerous reasons why you shouldn't do this, but in case you didn't know, we are abnormally dry across most of North Dakota. Very little new vegetation has emerged, and last year's grass is ripe and will burn easily.

The potential fire danger alone should make any conscientious person think twice about doing this.

Next, there are environmentally reasons why you shouldn't just throw a cigarette butt out the window.

Cigarette butts are made out of mainly plastic, which doesn't biodegrade and it takes many years to leave the environment. They can also add chemicals to our soil and water. Animals will also ingest cigarette butts and no surprise, can cause health issues.

Speaking of health issues. It amazes me that people haven't gotten the message after all these years. Cigarette smoking will more than likely send you to an early grave. At the very least, it will cause the quality of your life to go downhill fast.

Cancer, heart disease, COPD, numerous other diseases, and did I mention it's a disgusting habit? Yes, I know it's very addictive, but quit for your loved ones.

Okay, I will get off my soapbox. At the very least, be responsible and DON'T flick your lit cigarettes out your window.

If you can't kick the habit. Make sure you properly dispose of them in the trash after they are completely extinguished.