City Warns Curbside Scavengers of Litter Laws: Floods of 2014

As residents clean up from basement flooding from Monday’s torrential downpour, scavengers are picking through what they’ve left at the curb. (Patch file photo)

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City ordinance prohibits curbside scavengers from creating litter and scattering trash while looking for discarded flood damaged materials they deem of value.

With an enormous amount of bulk trash set at the curb following extensive basement flooding after the Aug. 11 storm, residents are seeing more people rummaging through the trash.

They should be aware that scavengers can be penalized under city ordinance, which says: No person shall deposit or cause to be deposited, sort, scatter, throw, drop or leave any waste, rubbish or garbage on any public or private place in the city.

In addition, it is against ordinance for any person to litter or permit to be littered on any of the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public places within the city by throwing, depositing, tracking, dropping, dumping or spilling any trash, paper, dirt, mud, ashes, sand, glass, leaves, garbage, debris or other materials, or to deposit or cause the same.

Scavengers engaged in these actions can be charged with a misdemeanor crime. The maximum penalty is $500 or 93 days in jail.

Residents should call the non-emergency police number at 943-2241 or the anonymous suspicious activity hotline at 943-3030 to report these behaviors.

Source: City of Dearborn