Camera program yields hundreds of citations and helps prosecute large tire dumps

Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful and Solid Waste staff described a multi‑camera surveillance program intended to deter illegal dumping and to help prosecute repeat offenders. "Since March 2023, we have had 479 violations that were forwarded to code or ACCPD for action, 326 citations, a 131 warnings," Stacy Smith reported. The program uses a mix of stand‑alone trail cameras, cellular cameras, license‑plate readers and two Flock cameras to capture evidence and route cases to code enforcement, police or the attorney's office.

Staff said large tire dumps have created an escalating environmental and operational headache — examples included roughly 234 tires at one site, approximately 800 tires at another steep ravine by Planet Fitness, and about 300 tires on Connolly Drive. Some sites required contracting a specialized cleanup. The program also standardized average fines (about $300) and is launching an education class in September for people cited for littering; staff are drafting ordinance updates and a procedural manual to preserve institutional knowledge.