Is littering no longer a ticketable offense?

Not to pile on the smokers any more than we already have (the poor junkies have fewer and fewer places to indulge in their drug of choice, and I'm all for limiting it even more than it already is), but have you looked down at your feet lately? The litter that is strewn in our gutters and sidewalks is at least 50% cigarette detritus: butts, matches, cartons of Kool. I think they might even be doing it more than any time in the past, as subtle (and perhaps subconcious) rebellion against the restrictions placed upon their habit. After all, when was the last time you saw a smoker snuff out a cig and place it in a nearby trash receptacle? Instead, the butt usually goes (still smoldering) into the gutter or in a doorway. I see signs here in California that littering is punishable by a $1000 fine. Start enforcing that (on everyone, not just smokers -- but the way smokers behave, my guess is they will bear the brunt of increased litter enforcement) and we could balance the budget before you can say "inoperable lung cancer."

Am I being harsh? Insensitive? Unnecessarily judgmental? Who cares? Put your butts in a can.