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Livingston Parish committee discusses raising litter penalties to state maximums
Summary
Ordinance committee discussed amending local litter ordinance 50-13 to increase fines and community service, adding jail and license suspensions for repeat offenses, and to forward changes to the council for introduction.
Livingston Parish ordinance committee members discussed a proposed amendment to the parish litter ordinance (listed in the meeting as “50-13”) that would raise penalties to the maximum allowed under state law.
Ryan opened discussion by describing the proposed penalty schedule: a first offense would carry a $500 fine and four hours of community service; a second offense would carry a $1,500 fine and eight hours of community service; a third offense would carry a $3,000 fine, 30 days in jail, and 75 hours of community service. Ryan said he wants to “charge the max and let the DA and the judges do what they will” when cases reach the 21st Judicial Court. He also said he’d discussed the change with “Miss Linda,” the sheriff and his attorney, and that those parties were comfortable with the proposal as drafted.
Committee members and other attendees proposed adding additional enforcement consequences for repeat offenders. One commenter said suspending a driver’s license is “a deterrent” and urged the committee to add a one‑year driver’s‑license suspension as an alternative to 30 days in jail for third offenses; another commenter said the existing state law already includes a combination of 30 days in jail, license suspension and community service. Multiple speakers suggested adding suspension of hunting and fishing licenses along with driver’s‑license suspension to increase deterrence.
Ryan said he would incorporate the suggested changes — adding license suspensions and cross‑referencing state law where appropriate — and move the ordinance to the council for introduction at the next council meeting. He noted the lieutenant governor’s office is working on a separate state law revision related to litter offenders and asked the committee for public comment; none opposed the direction as discussed.
No formal vote was recorded in the committee transcript; Ryan said he would make the edits and submit the ordinance to the council for introduction (the transcript references the council meeting date as July 11).
