Who is responsible if trash is thrown from a vehicle?

The driver is responsible for trash thrown from a vehicle because they have the control and authority over the vehicle's operation at that moment. In legal terms, the driver is expected to maintain responsibility for the actions occurring within and from the vehicle while it is in motion. This includes ensuring that all passengers are complying with laws and regulations, such as not littering.

When considering the role of the vehicle owner, while they may hold some responsibility for their property, the immediate act of discarding trash during transit falls on the individual operating the vehicle. Passengers may be involved in throwing trash, but ultimate responsibility rests with the driver since they are tasked with managing the behavior of passengers and the vehicle itself. The city or municipality does not hold liability in this situation, as the accountability for littering directly pertains to the actions of the driver and their passengers.