Q. The driver of an SUV stopped at a red light, opened the door and set a drink can out on the ground beside the vehicle. I got a picture with my cell phone that shows the license plate clearly, as well as the can beside the SUV. How can I report this? -- T.B.
A. The N.C. Department of Transportation's Office of Beautification has a "Swat a Litterbug" program in which you can report litterbugs. The office will contact the owner of the vehicle with a formal notification signed by the colonel of the N.C. State Highway Patrol. This letter lets the owner of the vehicle know that the littering was witnessed and reported, explains the penalties for littering, and suggests ways to help fight the litter problem.
To report a litterbug, you can fill out a form online that includes the date, time and place you saw the littering, the license-plate number of the vehicle the litterbug was in, and a description of how the person littered. Or you can call in a report to the customer-service office at 877-368-4968. You can also get Swat-a-Litterbug cards to mail in by calling 800-331-5864.
The online reporting form, and more information about programs to fight litter, are available at www.ncdot.org/doh/Operations/dp_chief_eng/roadside/Beautification/Litterbug/
Littering offenses in North Carolina are taken seriously. As the notification letter says, "Had a law enforcement officer rather than a citizen seen this, the driver could have been fined up to $1,000 for the first offense and up to $2,000 for the second offense. Also, upon a finding of guilt, the driver would have received a penalty of one point on his/her driver's license."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement