Litterbugs Face Thousands In Fines, Could Lose Cars For Tossing Garbage On Ground In Yonkers

YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Litterbugs could find themselves facing fines in the thousands, and even losing their cars, for tossing garbage on the ground.

CBS2's Lou Young reported Yonkers is getting ready to issue lots of tickets and big fines to those that litter from their cars. Police said when littering becomes substantial enough to be labeled "dumping," they will also confiscate vehicles involved.

"We're not messing around," said City Council President Liam McGlaughlin. "The City Council has increased the offense from a class three to a class two offense."

The legislation, which McGlaughlin wrote, has fines starting at $250 and going up from there.

"You can get up to a $5,000 fine for littering on our streets and our police officers will be pursuing those individuals," Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Garner said.

"They'll pull over, especially at lights, they'll pull over and put the stuff on the curb," said Scott Blasetti of the Yonkers Public Works Department.

The ordinance puts teeth in an anti-littering initiative already in effect at city parks as visitors are urged to "leave no trace."

"It's a good idea for us to pick up our garbage and take it back to where we came from," resident Deanna Tacero said.

It's an increasingly popular carry in, carry out policy which was first adopted by the National Parks Service. If people don't find a trash receptacle, the trash is their problem, and leaving it behind could cost them big time.

"This isn't where we want to be unreasonable, but we're asking the public to chip in," McGlaughlin said.

The fines begin in the fall.