The Mountain Breeze: Keep your trash covered on way to disposal

February 7, 2019February 6, 2019 Cathy Benson

A number of folks over the past few weeks have noticed more trash along the highways and byways of beautiful Botetourt County, this editor included.

On Monday, Feb. 4, five Hefty-type trash bags full of garbage were scattered along Catawba Rd. in a half mile area west of Greenway Hollow Rd.

Major Delbert Dudding of the Botetourt Sheriff’s Department reminds citizens that there are codes. Ignorance of the law is not excuse. Ch. 20 of the Botetourt County code addresses the logistics of trash disposal. So you do not remain ignorant, here is the code.

Code 20 sec 82 etc “When a violation of the provisions of this section has been observed by any person and the litter dumped or disposed of was ejected from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the person ejecting the litter; provided, however, that such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.”

Trash should be covered with a tarp. Anything that does escape should be retrieved and placed back under the tarp

(c)

Any article of litter bearing a person’s name or address, found on the private property of another, or on any public property as designated herein, shall be presumed to be the property of such person whose name or address appears thereon, and that such person placed or caused to be placed such article of litter; provided, however, that such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.

(d) In the event any person has been notified of or charged with a violation of this section by any law enforcement officer or by any agent or employee of Botetourt County, the violator shall provide, within 15 days of being notified or charged, a receipt or other satisfactory proof of lawful disposal of the litter to the person who notified him or charged him with the violation.

(e) A violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.

So there you have it. Next time, we will talk about how you can help with trash along the roadsides.