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Law enforcement ready to get tough on litterbugs

By Lynn Hotaling
Litterbugs, don't let sunset find you in Jackson County.

Jackson County Sheriff Jim Cruzan and Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison have both pledged to increase their efforts to ticket those who litter county roadsides and waterways. And elected officials from Jackson County and its incorporated towns Tuesday (March 21) passed a resolution asking court officials to step up prosecution of those who throw trash along highways and in streams.

"No more warnings," Cruzan said about his department's new zero-tolerance of littering. "We can't give them anymore. Look around and there's trash everywhere you go."

The sheriff accepted responsibility for part of the county's litter problem.

"Mine is the primary responsibility (for controlling litter)," he said. "I haven't been forceful enough." His department has been "warning people for years," Cruzan said, promising that littering will no longer be ignored in Jackson County.

"What it takes is for officers to start it," and every deputy sheriff will be designated a "litter officer," Cruzan said. He told assembled officials from the county and towns that his department will now treat littering as they do any other nonviolent crime.

Citizen responsibility is a key to litter control, the sheriff said. People must step up and be willing to testify - turning in a license tag number is not enough to convict a litterbug, Cruzan said.

"It will just take one or two (convictions) and it will snowball," he said. Going to court, whether convicted or not, will be a great deterrent to those who litter, the sheriff said. "If they have to go to court, that's a start. It's pretty embarrasssing for someone who's never been in trouble before to have to stand there and explain to the judge why they threw their Pampers out," Cruzan said.

Cruzan wants it to be known, he said, that he has cameras positioned at a couple of SRCs. "I won't tell you which ones - I catch them selling dope that way, and I can catch them dumping trash. I hope (those who litter) test me," the sheriff said.

Sylva's Chief Jamison agreed that litter enforcement should be a priority, but said his department's efforts had been hampered in the past by less than adequate support from the District Attorney.

"I realize the challenge the D.A. faces," Jamison said. "But, if we take them to court, win or lose, it makes a statement that we won't tolerate litter in Jackson County."

Jamison agreed that it's almost impossible to prove littering from a car. However, when the dumping involves bags of trash, his department goes through the bags looking for names of individuals who might be responsible.

The police chief said any litter solution has to start with school children. Solving the problem will take a concentrated effort to educate kids, he said.

"We're the leaders of the community - (solving the litter problem) has to start with us," Commissioners' Chairman Jay Denton said.

With that in mind, assembled governmental leaders passed another resolution - this one aimed at educating citizens about the harmful effects of litter and cooperating with Gov. Jim Hunt's statewide "Clean NC 2000" effort. Gary Ayers has been designated the local coordinator in the combined boards' anti-litter effort.

Back to Archive: 03/23/00.