In The News

Media Releases
 

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR LITTER KICK OFF HELD AT STATE HOUSE

Officers and Legislators Gather in Support of Enforcement Efforts

Columbia, SC – SC Litter Control Association, PalmettoPride and statewide law enforcement agencies kicked off the 2007 Zero Tolerance for Litter Awareness Campaign today on the north steps of the Capital building.  May 17 – 19 will mark the 9^th annual three-day anti-litter campaign geared towards enhancing awareness about state and local litter laws.

Senator David L. Thomas, Chairman of PalmettoPride, addressed the crowd, followed by Lt. Randy Fisher, President of South Carolina Litter Control Association.  Other speakers included Officer Robert Williams of the SC State Transport Police and Don Arnold, Director of Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement.

“The number one source of litter on our roadways comes from unsecured loads in truck beds,” said Lt. Fisher.  “If we see litter coming off the back of trucks, we will give you a ticket, and we will let you know what the litter laws are in SC.”

Officers were given a laminated document with the state litter laws.  These documents fit in the back of a ticket book for easy reference.

Zero Tolerance for Litter Weekend combines enforcing litter laws with an educational campaign in order to change the behavior that causes litter.  Law enforcement officers will target littering, unsecured loads and illegal dumping.   Unsecured loads are the number one source of litter on our highways. 

“These officers are champions in advancing litter control enforcement efforts, and I applaud them, said Senator Thomas.   “We need to show the nation and each other that we do care about the appearance of our State.”

Litter is mainly considered an eyesore more than a threat to public safety.  As part of the Broken Windows Theory, which infers that a broken window left unrepaired will lead to more broken windows and, ultimately, decay in the community's quality of life, many law enforcement leaders know that litter, along with graffiti and vandalism, is a major factor in the quality of life in South Carolina. 

For additional information, please contact PalmettoPride at 877-725-7733 or log onto www.palmettopride.org.

#  #   #

SOUTH CAROLINA LITTER CONTROL ASSOCIATION (SCLCA) was organized in 1987 to promote litter enforcement, to protect the environment and to heighten public awareness of the litter problems.  In partnership with SCLCA, PalmettoPride works to engage law enforcement officers in enforcing South Carolina's litter laws and spreading awareness of the fines associated with these laws.