Clinton creates criminal penalty for littering from vehicles, targets unsecured loads after repeated road spills
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Summary
Council adopted an ordinance making littering from motor vehicles and dropping vehicle contents a class 3 misdemeanor with a $500 fine — the maximum municipal criminal penalty under state law — and directed staff to pursue restitution and enforcement options for drivers and potentially companies using independent contractors.
Clinton City Council adopted a revised city code ordinance that makes littering from motor vehicles and the dropping of vehicle contents a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine, city staff and the police chief said.
The ordinance responds to repeated incidents of debris and dead animals being dumped along municipal and county roads. Staff explained the change will provide additional municipal enforcement tools to pursue restitution for cleanup costs and hold drivers accountable; they said it is designed to complement state statutes that may carry felony commercial littering penalties.
"This makes it a class 3 misdemeanor under our city code, to litter from motor vehicles, and it also makes it a class 3 misdemeanor under our code to, to drop contents of all the vehicles," a city attorney or staff member explained, adding that $500 is the maximum criminal penalty a municipality can impose under state law.
During discussion, council and staff noted that enforcement typically begins with citation of the driver; in many cases companies pay driver citations and restitution, and the city is working on options to pursue company-level penalties as well.
Council moved, seconded and adopted the ordinance. The transcript records the motion passing unanimously.
