Bill > H3860

This bill authorizes the city of Lawrence to establish a program to combat illegal dumping, making it unlawful for anyone to dump various types of waste, including refuse, rubbish, garbage, household goods, appliances, furniture, construction debris, landscaping debris, scrap, or trash, on public or private ways within the city or on city-owned land, or within 20 yards of such ways. Property owners are also required to remove any dumped material from their land within seven days of receiving written notice from an authorized city official, such as a police officer or code inspector. The city can pursue criminal or civil actions in housing, superior, or district courts to enforce these provisions. Violators of the dumping prohibition could face criminal penalties including fines of $5,000 to $10,000, or imprisonment for up to seven days, or both. Those found responsible in civil actions for dumping or failing to remove dumped material will be subject to a civil penalty of three times the cost of removal, up to a maximum of $5,000, and may also face court orders to remedy the situation. All collected fines and penalties will be deposited into a dedicated "Disposal Enforcement Fund" managed by the city treasurer, which will be used to finance enforcement efforts, removal of dumped materials, and programs related to waste collection and disposal for city residents.