Gov. Tom Wolf late Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 431 sponsored by Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) to reduce littering across Pennsylvania by requiring offenders to pick up trash and authorizing the creation of local litter enforcement corridors.

“When you look at all of the trash along our roads, it’s clear that fines alone are not enough to deter this crime,” said Sen. Scavello. “Littering is like graffiti and other acts of vandalism – when people engage in it without fear of punishment, it sends the message that no one cares and leads to more litter. It’s time to show we really care.”

Senate Bill 431 requires that for a first offense of scattering rubbish, a person is required to pick up litter or illegally dumped trash for between five and 30 hours within six months, in addition to the existing fine of $50 to $300.

For a second or subsequent offense, the offender may also be required to pick up litter or illegally dumped trash for 30 to 100 hours over one year, in addition to the existing fine of $300 to $1,000.

Furthermore, existing fines are doubled when committed in a litter enforcement corridor and tripled for litter that originated from a commercial business within a litter enforcement corridor.

To ensure safety when litter is being picked up, Senate Bill 431 requires that a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to any authorized vehicle or pedestrian engaged in work upon a highway within a litter enforcement corridor.

“We are grateful for Sen. Scavello’s leadership and for the entire legislature’s willingness to work together to strengthen Pennsylvania’s litter and illegal dumping laws,” said Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful President Shannon Reiter. “The bipartisan and unanimous support for this bill underscores our shared commitment to keeping Pennsylvania beautiful.”

"The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau wholeheartedly supports SB 431 and is grateful for the Senator's leadership,” said PMVB President/CEO Christopher Barrett. “This new law will add a very important arrow in the quiver of our ‘Pick up the Poconos’ anti-litter initiative.”

 “I’ve been working for years to put some teeth in laws designed to combat littering. This crime is bad for civic pride and bad for the environment. I am grateful to my legislative colleagues for passing this legislation unanimously, and I look forward to a cleaner, healthier landscape that we can all be proud of,” said Sen. Scavello.

A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.  The bill is now Act 62 of 2018.

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[Posted: June 29, 2018]

7/2/2018