County evaluates camera pilot after 41 dump events produced four citations; staff to refine placement and tactics

Monterey County’s pilot camera program for illegal dumping — six Reconyx infrared, cellular, motion‑sensing cameras deployed in 2024–25 — has documented 41 illegal‑dumping events and supported four citations to date, county staff reported Feb. 3.

Solid Waste and Environmental Health supervisors described a workflow in which cameras produce images and local partners (including regional employers and public‑works staff) provide time‑stamped photos and ground‑truthing; where imagery and associated evidence yield an identifiable vehicle or address, the District Attorney’s Office has pursued citations. Staff presented multiple enforcement success examples where unusual identifying items or a distinctive trash container allowed investigators to link debris to a specific address and rental vehicle transactions.

The county said pilot lessons include better camera placement (lower mounts to increase plate capture but balanced against vandalism/theft risk), pairing cameras with active local observers, and running targeted camera traps at known pull‑outs and hot spots. Staff also promoted Monterey County Connect — the county app for reporting incidents with photos — as a public‑reporting pathway.

The county will relocate some cameras from lower‑yield locations to higher‑value hotspots, coordinate outreach and signage advising of enforcement and trash‑disposal options, and return to the board with additional pilot metrics and cost estimates.

No board vote was required; the board received the update and thanked staff and community partners for the pilot work.