You can thank open container laws for that one. I grew up in Very Rural county in Ohio. It was common for people to toss empties in the back of a pickup truck or the back seat. At some point in the early 80s, the cops started enforcing open container laws, even in the bed of a pickup. Guess where the cans went thereafter?
Not excusing or advocating drinking and driving but if it is illegal to have certain trash in a vehicle, guess what happens to that trash?
Same principle. I don't condone drinking and driving either, but I have to admit to drinking beer on occasion or mixing something a little more interesting into a coffee thermos on a trip. We are living in a police state. Seat belts remember? grrrr!
They are manufacturing autos without ashtrays now, which (in my opinion)is really a crime. Either that or they make the ashtray small and put it in an inconvenient place, so you have to bring you own anyway. Sure it cuts the manufacturer's cost, but even non-smokers could use an ashtray for toll way change. Nothing like anti's taking advantage of the politically correct on every front.
Still, I dump my car ashtray and garbage at a gas station or when I get home. Plus, throwing a lit cigarette out a car window while moving is a really good way to have it blow back in and burn the inside of the car...
Garnet