Never throw anything from a window or balcony
Throwing something from a height can attract penalties even if it misses everyone, provided the legal danger condition is met. Serious injury or death can lead to much heavier charges than the standalone throwing-from-height offense. One person received ten years after bottles and glasses thrown from a 21st floor seriously injured a 13-year-old; another received a death sentence approved in 2024 after bricks thrown from a 32nd floor killed someone.
What it takes
Nothing. Put cigarette ends, rubbish bags, bottles, and other waste in an indoor bin.
What you may gain
Throwing objects from a building or another height, creating danger to people, property, or public safety, can bring up to five days’ detention or a fine up to RMB 1,000. Serious circumstances bring ten to 15 days and an optional fine up to RMB 1,000. The standalone criminal offense carries up to one year and a fine or a fine alone. More serious offenses apply where their elements are met. In the official Li case, empty bottles and glasses thrown after drinking from a 21st floor into a playground struck a 13-year-old student, causing forensic grade-2 serious injury; the sentence was ten years for endangering public safety by dangerous means. Zhou threw eight bricks from a 32nd floor toward people below, killing one; the Supreme People’s Court approved the death sentence in 2024.
Context & considerations
Actual injury is not required for the administrative danger-based provision. Civil Code Article 1254 separately addresses civil liability, but the original author could not open and verify that text during this entry’s research, so it was not relied on here.
Research & references
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (2025). Revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law, Article 43. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml; Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (2020). Criminal Law Amendment XI, Article 33, adding Article 291-2. https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml; National People’s Congress (2020). Criminal Law consolidated through Amendment XI, Article 291-2. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html; Supreme People’s Court (2024). Typical public-safety criminal cases, Case 1. https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/429522.html; Supreme People’s Court (2025). Interview with Vice President Li Yong on penalties for throwing objects from heights. https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/458381.html.