The urban management bureau in Wuhan, Hubei Province, nabbed its first out-of-province litterer, after an official from neighboring Henan Province paid a 50-yuan ($8) fine for throwing a cigarette butt out of his car window.

The official's superiors also sent a letter of apology to the Wuhan bureau promising to further punish the litterer.

The Wuhan chengguan bureau launched a litter prevent ion campaign on October 18 offering a reward of 100 yuan to anyone who reports motorists who litter. Offenders are fined 50 yuan and a notice of their infraction is sent to their residential community and workplace.

The Henan official was caught by a local resident on video throwing a cigarette butt from his car window. The official vehicle's license plate was used to track down the offending official.

An official from the Wuhan chengguan, surnamed Ye, told the Global Times that they received a faxed apology from the Henan department.

"This is the first ticket issued to someone from out of province. The positive response is helpful in promoting our efforts at preventing littering on the road," said Ye, adding that his office is also concerned for the safety of the many street sweepers employed to pick up garbage that has been strewn over the city's roads.

Since the campaign started, officials have issued tickets to 86 motorists for littering.

"The current traffic law bans littering, but enforcement is slack," Wang Zhenyu, a professor with the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times.