Wisconsin Supreme Court: State troopers can stop drivers for littering

MADISON — The Wisconsin Supreme Court says state troopers can stop motorists for littering.

The court ruled Wednesday in a case involving Daniel S. Iverson of Amery. Iverson was driving in La Crosse in 2014 when a state trooper pulled him over after he saw someone throw a cigarette out of the vehicle in violation of the state's littering law and cited Iverson for drunken driving.

Iverson argued the trooper couldn't legally stop him because littering is a non-traffic violation.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that police have the authority to investigate littering violations and making traffic stops to probe such violations is reasonable.

Iverson's attorney says people should now realize police can stop them for tossing cigarettes from their cars.