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Monday, February 02, 2009

Ind. Law - Laws on littering, snow removal

Ken Kosky's NWI Times' "It's the Law" column for this week looks at littering. It begins:

In tough economic times, some people try to save money by cutting spending on anything that isn't essential.

But people who cancel their garbage service should keep in mind that it is illegal to dump garbage along a rural roadside, to burn it or to place it in someone else's garbage can or Dumpster without their permission.

Indiana law states a person who places garbage on the property of another commits littering, a ticketable offense. Indiana law allows fines of as much as $1,000, more if it involves a lit cigarette.

Last week's (Jan. 26th) column dealt with winter-related laws and ordinances. Some quotes:
Most towns, cities and counties have an ordinance that requires people to move their vehicles off the roadway anytime 2 inches or more of snow falls. Generally, the cars must remain off the roadway until the plows remove the snow or the snow melts or is compacted to less than 2 inches.

Porter County Sheriff's Department Lt. Chris Eckert said cars on the roadway were wreaking havoc last week.

"County Highway is having trouble opening streets up and citizens are having trouble navigating the roadways because of those cars buried with snow for days," Eckert said, adding blocked roads also hamper the response of emergency vehicles.

Most jurisdictions also have an ordinance preventing people from shoveling, plowing or blowing snow from private property onto a public street or alley. Police said when people put snow onto the roadway, it could cause a motorist to slide and crash.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 2, 2009 08:15 AM
Posted to Indiana Law