Dedicated to preserving the beauty of Louisa County through
litter prevention, recycling, environmental education and community involvement.
Louisa County Litter Ordinances
Of course, we would hope that litter never happens and that no one drops trash on the ground. Some people may not think about it and the litter just gets away from them. Here is a listing of laws in Louisa County that deal with trash on the loose!
Sec. 62-27. Littering prohibited; rebuttable presumption concerning operators of motor vehicles.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter in or upon any public or private property within the county, including, but not restricted to, any street, sidewalk, park, body of water or vacant or occupied lot, except in public receptacles, in authorized private receptacles provided for public use, in an area designated by the state department of health as a permitted disposal site or in bulk containers located at county container sites.
(b) When a violation of the provisions of this section has been observed by any person, and the matter dumped or disposed of in the highway, right-of-way, property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or private property has been ejected from a motor vehicle, the operator of such motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the person ejecting such trash, garbage, refuse or other unsightly matter; provided, that such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.
Sec. 62-28. Allowing escape of load material.
(a) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is constructed or loaded to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom. However, sand or any substance for increasing traction during times of snow and ice may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substances may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining the roadway by the commonwealth or local government agency having that responsibility. Any person operating a vehicle from which any glass or objects have fallen or escaped which could constitute an obstruction or damage a vehicle or otherwise endanger travel upon a public highway shall immediately cause the highway to be cleaned of all glass or objects and shall pay any costs therefor.
(b) No vehicle used to transport litter or other items likely to fall or be blown from such vehicle shall be driven or moved, stopped or parked on any highway, unless measures are taken to prevent its contents from blowing, dropping or falling from such vehicle.
Sec. 62-39. Enforcement; initiation of prosecution.
(a) Enforcement officers of the county sheriff's department and other law enforcement agency personnel with powers to arrest may issue citations to, or arrest, persons violating any provision of this article, and may serve and execute all warrants and other process issued by the court in enforcing the provisions of this article.
(b) Enforcement procedures shall be the same as those for other law violations which are designated as class 3 misdemeanors.
(c) Prosecution for a violation of any provision of this article may be initiated by any law enforcement officer who witnesses such offense. Such prosecution may also be initiated by any private citizen who witnesses such an offense.
Sec. 62-40. Penalties.
Violation of any section of this article shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00. In each case, the court, at its discretion, may invoke appropriate alternative sentencing in lieu of monetary fines, such as community service.
(Code 1971, § 7-17)
State law references: Penalty for dumping trash, etc., on highway, right-of-way or private property, Code of Virginia, § 33.1-346.
