In May 2023, a high-altitude littering incident occurred in Hangzhou, where a couple argued and threw their pet dog from the eighth floor, causing public anger. The Shangcheng Branch of Hangzhou Public Security Bureau has taken criminal coercive measures against the man involved. High altitude littering behavior not only includes small items, but may also include large items, posing a serious threat to personal and property safety. The article will explore the causes, social hazards, and legal responsibilities of high-altitude littering.

1、 High-altitude throwing - origin and harm

High altitude littering behavior is not only uncivilized but also irresponsible, and may cause serious harm to pedestrians and property. The public has insufficient awareness of the harmfulness of this behavior and believes that the consequences are not serious. However, the destructive power of high-altitude throwing is far beyond imagination, as eggs falling from different heights can cause varying degrees of damage, even fatal. Heavier items such as knives and wine bottles can have even more serious consequences if thrown from a high altitude.

2、 Regulations on high-altitude littering in Chinese law

The regulation of high-altitude littering behavior in our country's laws has gone through a process from scratch. In 2019, the Supreme People's Court issued an opinion requiring conviction and punishment based on factors such as the perpetrator's motive, location, throwing situation, and consequences. In 2021, the 11th Amendment to the Criminal Law officially included high-altitude littering behavior in the Criminal Law, stipulating that those with serious circumstances may be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of up to one year, detention or surveillance, and fined. At the same time, Article 1254 of the Civil Code stipulates the civil liability for high-altitude littering, clarifying that the infringer shall bear the tort liability. If it is difficult to determine the infringer, compensation shall be provided by the building user who may cause harm. Property service companies and other managers who fail to take necessary safety measures shall bear tort liability. If a high-altitude throwing incident occurs and the infringer can be directly identified, they shall bear the responsibility; If it is difficult to determine, the building user who may have caused the damage shall compensate, and the infringer may be pursued for compensation in the future. If the perpetrator reaches the "serious circumstances" stipulated in the Criminal Law, they will also face criminal sanctions.

3、 Conclusion

The problem of high-altitude littering needs to be solved by raising public moral awareness and legal knowledge; In the process of urbanization, the improvement of living services for high-rise residents is the key to preventing illegal activities; The whole society should work together to improve the convenience of life for residents of high-rise buildings, in order to reduce high-altitude littering behavior.