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Monterey County expands camera pilot and enforcement to curb illegal dumping
Summary
Monterey County officials described an expanded camera surveillance pilot, recent citations tied to Lapis Road imagery and additional enforcement steps; environmental health also noted a Clean California Community designation and urged residents to use vouchers and free cleanup events.
Monterey County officials on Wednesday outlined an expansion of a camera surveillance pilot and accompanying enforcement actions aimed at reducing illegal dumping, saying cameras and complaint investigations have produced citations and higher-quality evidence for prosecution.
Maria Ferdin, an environmental health staff member, told a county news briefing that the county launched a camera surveillance program in 2024 and installed two cameras on Lapis Road in September 2024. Four additional cameras were installed in February 2025 and can be rotated among known dumping hotspots countywide.
Ferdin said the Lapis Road pilot identified at least four illegal dumpers in the 2024–2025 period and that the county issued citations based on camera images. She said the presence of community observers on Lapis Road and coordination with the county district attorney’s office have strengthened the county’s ability to identify responsible parties and pursue enforcement.
“We’ve identified at least four illegal dumpers as a result and have issued citations for those responsible,” Ferdin said, and added that the county considers the camera evidence supportive when linking materials to individuals.
Beyond camera‑triggered cases, Ferdin said environmental health completed investigations that resulted in three additional citations independent of camera footage. In instances where the county cannot establish responsibility with photographic evidence, staff issue warning letters to notify property owners or occupants that repeated violations could lead to citations.
Ferdin also noted that the county applied to and was named a Clean California Community under a Caltrans initiative after meeting 10 of 15 criteria used by the program; she said a press release with program details was included in her presentation.
On outreach and mitigation, Ferdin urged residents to take advantage of vouchers and community cleanup events. She said the board of supervisors will designate April as Earth Day Awareness Month and that environmental health will lead a cleanup at Cara Lake; residents can request vouchers to transport debris to landfills or transfer stations after organized cleanups so they are not charged for disposal.
“Those community cleanup events are well‑attended,” Ferdin said, but she added that vouchers and other free options appear underused by some residents and that the county is trying multiple outreach channels to reach populations that do not receive existing communications.
The briefing did not announce new countywide ordinances or a vote related to the program. Officials encouraged residents to report illegal dumping, to request vouchers after community cleanups, and to use scheduled outreach events to learn about disposal options.
The county plans to continue rotating cameras among hotspots and to coordinate with local observers and the district attorney’s office when photographic evidence is available. The news briefing closed with staff encouraging participation in upcoming Earth Day activities and noting the next briefing is scheduled for next week.
