Fines for Tossing Garbage in Public Bins To Double

Fines for tossing garbage from a home or business into a public trash bin are about to double. The City Council is expected to approve a bill on Wednesday to increase fines for illegal dumping and allow sanitation officials issue tickets based on information found in the trash. A first offense would be fined $100 to $300, a second offense within one year would be fined $250 and $350, and a third offense within one year would be fined $350 to $400. If a sanitation department official, for instance, found letters in a public trash bin addressed to the same person, they would be allowed to ticket that person, the sponsor of the bill, Council Member Michael McMahon, said. It would be incumbent on the person being fined to prove they did not dump their trash illegally, he added.