Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-502 (2026)
Offense of littering
✓ current as of May 2026
- (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.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2004–2026 · leading case: State v. Turner, 193 S.W.3d 522 (Tenn. 2006).
State v. Turner, 193 S.W.3d 522 (Tenn. 2006). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-14-502(b) & (c)(1) (2003 & Supp.”
Michael Shane McCullough v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-502 , -17-305, -17-433, -17-435.”
State of Tennessee v. Donald Wayne Boxx (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-502 (a)(1). The trial court overruled the motion to suppress, ruling that the officer had probable cause to stop the defendant for littering.”
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Swofford (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The trial court orally denied Defendant’s motion to suppress, finding that Officer Copley initiated a lawful stop of Defendant’s vehicle after observing Defendant throw litter onto the surface of the parking lot in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-502. The…”
State of Tennessee v. Alfonvo Montell Johnson a.ka. Alfonzo Montell Johnson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-502 (a)(1). Litter is defined as “garbage, refuse, rubbish and all other waste material.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-502(a)(1): 2 cases
Michael Shane McCullough v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-502 , -17-305, -17-433, -17-435.”
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Swofford (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The trial court orally denied Defendant’s motion to suppress, finding that Officer Copley initiated a lawful stop of Defendant’s vehicle after observing Defendant throw litter onto the surface of the parking lot in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-502. The…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-502(b): 1 case
State v. Turner, 193 S.W.3d 522 (Tenn. 2006). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-14-502(b) & (c)(1) (2003 & Supp.”
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