CBS2 Demanding Answers After Bronx Homeowners Complain About Excessive Tickets From Sanitation Department
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- CBS2 is demanding answers from the city after Bronx residents raised a stink with the New York City Department of Sanitation.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported some homeowners have been complaining about excessive tickets they said they got for someone else's trash.
Residents on East 147th Street in Mott Haven said the garbage and debris is not their fault, blaming it on litterbugs from a nearby school and park.
"You got food, you got wine bottles, I even find drug paraphernalia dumped at the tree," one resident said.
Homeowners said it's unfair they get multiple citations from the Sanitation Department.
"I think they are overzealous," said resident Gisell Gavin.
In the span of just 30 minutes there were five tickets for five different neighbors, with fines of $100 to $300 each.
"Anything that happens 12 feet out I'm responsible," said Linvale Jack.
Jack added he received three citations and only one was for his trash. He claimed the rest blew in while he was at work.
Residents said the wind often comes and just kicks trash down the street.
"I can't be out here 24-seven to clean it," said resident Taslyn Muir.
The sanitation supervisor said he uses discretion and only tickets for litter that appears to have been there a while.
"If the resident disagrees with the violation they can request a hearing, to which they may bring their evidence," the department said in a statement.
Some residents use their security cameras to check for possible bogus ticket writing, but the videos can be too wide-angle and far away to prove anything.
Others are pushing for legislation that would require sanitation agents photograph and document what they see when they issue tickets.
The department opposed having agents take photos to go with the tickets, saying it would be "impractical" and "economically unfeasible."
