City Launches Public Awareness

Campaign on Litter

The City of Lake Charles and the Ward 3 Marshal's Office have begun a public awareness campaign about littering and the regulation of litter at business/commercial establishments and on public and private property.

In May and June, the City sent out approximately 27,000 informational brochures in water bills to the general public. In June and July, the City is sending out approximately 4,000 informational brochures to area businesses within the City of Lake Charles. The brochures address the responsibilities of individuals and businesses with regard to litter.

The City of Lake Charles Code of Ordinances prohibits littering on public and private property, on roadways and on waterways. Violators of the City's ordinance prohibiting litter will be subject to civil fines.

The City Council adopted Ordinance Number 14483 on March 19, 2008, amending the Code of Ordinances to provide for the regulation of litter upon commercial properties.

This includes the area in and around the business establishment including adjacent parking areas and entryways.

The litter ordinance allows any citizen to report a litter violation. Information needed for a citizen complaint includes: date and time of incident; location of incident, vehicle description - make, model, color - and license number, description of offender, description of litter, and witness information, if any. The information can be sent to: the Litter Enforcement Officer at the Ward 3 City Marshal's Office, 438-LAWS (5297),

e-mail: litter@ward3marshal.org; the City's Property Standards Division, 491-1476; or any other law enforcement agency which has the power to issue a citation or summons to the offender.

Said Mayor Roach:

"Litter is one of the easiest things to prevent and one of the hardest things to control.

If everyone will do their part concerning litter, our community can be a clean one that we all can be proud of and that will positively reflect on the environmental and economic well-being of our area. Clean communities are good for businesses as well as the residents who live there."

Said Ward 3 Marshal Joey Alcede:

"I would much rather see compliance in lieu of enforcement, and that will be the mission of my office."