Burning Cigarette Butt Thrown from Police Car
A reader captured on camera the moment a person inside an official police vehicle, bearing the slogan 'Safety and Trust', tossed a lit cigarette butt onto the road through the window.
A reader captured on camera the moment a person inside an official police vehicle, bearing the slogan 'Safety and Trust', tossed a lit cigarette butt onto the road through the window.
An incident that shocked the public was recorded on the island of Ugljan: a person inside an official police vehicle, the one with the prominent slogan "Safety and Trust," threw a glowing cigarette butt out the window onto the road. The video was provided to the Morski newsroom by an outraged reader, who described the act as particularly problematic amid the fire season.
The reader who filmed the incident stated in his message: "I am sending you a video showing an official police vehicle from which a police officer throws a cigarette butt out the window onto the road. I believe this behavior is especially problematic precisely because it involves an official who should be an example of responsible conduct and adherence to regulations."
His outrage is further fueled by the fact that the incident occurred in the midst of the fire season, when appeals to citizens and tourists not to light fires outdoors and to be extremely cautious in their behavior are a daily occurrence.
Throwing a cigarette butt out of a car window while driving carries a fine of 130 euros. If the discarded butt causes a fire, fines escalate to thousands of euros, and the perpetrator also faces a multi-year prison sentence.
Morski has sent an official inquiry to the Zadar Police Department, along with the video, seeking a statement on the incident and information on whether disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against the responsible officer and whether they will face the legally prescribed penalty. The response from the Zadar Police Department will be published as soon as it is received.
In the meantime, Morski reminds of similar incidents: a Czech national was recently recorded throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle on the road between Zagreb and Karlovac, as was a Polish national on Velebit.
Unofficially, it has been learned that the disputed footage was taken on May 27 this year at 9:45 PM, and police investigations are still ongoing. The Zadar Police Department stated that such conduct is unacceptable, especially during periods of heightened fire risk, and does not align with the standards expected of police officers. They added that such behavior can damage the reputation of the police service, emphasizing that the police participate daily in activities aimed at protecting lives, property, and the safety of citizens, as well as fire prevention. If disciplinary responsibility is established through checks, appropriate measures prescribed by the Police Act will be taken against the officer, and the public will be duly informed of the results.
