Question about littering?

Okay so I was at the movies tonight and when walking back to the car I was honestly looking for a garbage bin to throw out my large plastic tub of popcorn and couldn't find any. So by the time we got to our car, I just decided that I would toss it, which I know wasn't the smartest call but anyways, out of the dark this old security guy starts yelling from his truck.

Feeling bad and also concerned, I went back and picked up the bucket and drink and started walking back for the car. Then he runs up to us, I apologized and told him that it wouldn't fit in any of the garbages but that it was still stupid, so he pulls out his cell phone and takes a picture of me? It was dark so it probably didn't even turn out but still..

And then, as we're trying to back out, he boxes us in with the truck for a few seconds while he jots down my friend's license plate??

I realize he was probably just taking his job too seriously, and that I probably did look like an idiot, but he can't do anything right?

Oh, and he was Mall Security, the theatre is in a mall.

He's a rent-a-cop, he has no real law enforcement authority. He could report you to the police, but their not going to go through the trouble of tracking you down through your friends licence plate number just to find the guy who picked up his popcorn bucket.

have people become really so lazy that they can't handle taking the garbage with them, that they just have to throw it outside because they can't find a garbage can?

Sure we could blame it on " well there was no garbage and i was looking for it"... but it at the same time we are still physically capable of holding on to the trash, even if that means throwing it out at home.

A little more effort on everyone's part would greatly reduce the garbage that people just " have to" throw out because they can't find a garbage can.

Depends on what state you live in.

I know here that the first time you are reported as littering, they just make a note of it. the second time, they send you a letter I think. I'm not sure what happens the third time, it's been a couple of years since I asked.

hopefully he has a relative who can get your address from your license plate and he dumps a trash can in your front yard...

if you wouldn't throw it down in your own front yard why would you throw it down somewhere else?