Anti-Litter Initiative Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Dumping litter prohibited. Unless otherwise authorized by law or permit, it is unlawful for any person to dump litter in any manner or amount in or on any public highway, road, street, alley, or thoroughfare, including any portion of the right-of- way thereof, or any other public lands, except in containers or areas lawfully provided therefore. When any litter is thrown or discarded from a motor vehicle, the operator or owner of the motor vehicle, or both, shall be deemed in violation of this section. Litter Statute (4)(A)

Any person who dumps litter: – Not exceeding 15 pounds in weight or 37 cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes: Is guilty of a non criminal infraction, punishable by a civil penalty of $50. – Exceeding 15 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume, but not exceeding 500 pounds in weight or 100 cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes: Is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by the court. If violation occurs with use of a motor vehicle, upon a finding of guilt shall have 3 points recorded on the violator’s driver’s license. – Exceeding 500 pounds in weight or 100 cubic feet in volume or any commercial purpose or hazardous waste material: Is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable by the court. Penalties/Enforcement

Successful litter program involves 3 prongs EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT COLLECTION

EDUCATION Formal program to inform JSO Officers of litter laws including roll call training videos and in-service training. Promote the Broken Windows concept – “Sweat the small Stuff” Possibility of turning a routine minor traffic stop for littering into a felony stop with guns, drugs, and fugitives Appeal to the media for public service education spots in regards to: – Education about anti-litter – Education that JSO will be taking proactive enforcement action Signal 94 utilization for enforcement education. Utilize JSO website to promote anti-litter message and warn citizens of increased enforcement. Discuss merits and logistics for incorporating anti-litter message into Officer Friendly program (similar format to other traffic safety messages currently being used).

ENFORCEMENT Sheriff’s Staff is directed to present and promote anti-littering message to enforcement personnel in positive manner Officer’s are directed to begin aggressively citing casual litter violators both pedestrian and vehicular Utilize covert directed patrol strategy in and around identified problem locations, including major roadway intersection and JTA bus stop locations Casual cigarette butt discards at major intersections is area of great concern, utilize covert enforcement deployments to address this issue. Utilize Community Service Officer’s (CSO’s) to cite law violators Utilize C.O.P.S. unit to dedicate a minimum of 4 hours per month at identifying a litter related problem in the Arlington effort and once identified take steps to remedy the problem.

COLLECTION Utilize inmate labor to participate in organized pre- planned neighborhood clean-ups (partnership/joint efforts) Coordinate inmate labor crews with city public works and solid waste departments to augment short staffing concerns Utilize Community Service inmates on weekends to police areas of concerns. Store trash at central locations for pick up by solid waste division.

9100 Atlantic Boulevard – Deployment worked – “Operation Litterbug” – man hours – Results: 1 Felony arrest (Cocaine) 1 Misdemeanor arrest (Marijuana) 2 Traffic citations (Traffic citations) 3 Warning citations (Throwing cigarette butts) 1 FIR (Field Investigation Report) 1 Vehicle seized Success Stories

Clean-Up of Transient Camp at 6090 Atlantic Boulevard Worked by Officer Ardizzoni