Printer Friendly Format
View Press Conference
56k  or  300k



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2003
PR- 008-03
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION
STRENGTHENING LITTERING LAWS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 70-A, sponsored by Speaker Miller and 24 of his colleagues. This legislation amends various provisions of the Administrative Code relating to the City's littering law, the maintenance of receptacles for the removal of waste material and the removal of snow, ice and dirt from City sidewalks. These provisions are the fundamental tools used by the Department of Sanitation to maintain the level of street cleanliness that we have become accustomed to in our City.

"Unfortunately, many individuals continue to ignore the littering law. In the year 2002, the Department of Sanitation issued 79,104 notices of violations for offenses covered in the provisions of the littering law that we are amending today. Intro. 70-A amends the Administrative Code to create repeat offender fines for those who consistently litter in the City of New York. Although the fine for a first violation remains $50, the newly created fines for a second and third violation within any 12-month period will be a minimum of $250 and $350, respectively.

"The legislation also amends the Administrative Code to create a statutory repeat offender scheme for sanitation violators. The fine for a first violation remains $50. The minimum fine for a second violation within any 12-month period will be $100 and the minimum fine for a third violation within any 12-month period will be $200.

"Furthermore, Intro. 70-A amends the provisions of the Administrative Code to create repeat offender violations for those who consistently fail to remove snow and ice from their properties. Currently, the fine for a first violation is $50. The newly created statutory scheme for repeat offenders allows for a maximum penalty of $350 to be imposed for a third violation in a 12-month period.

"Finally, all of the above sections have also added provisions to increase the default penalty, which is the maximum fine allowed, for those who fail to respond to a notice of violation.

"The current civil penalties for violating these sections have not been changed for the past decade. Today, most violators find it cheaper to pay an occasional $50 fine rather than to comply with the law. Increasing these penalties will not only serve to deter violators, thus improving the quality of life and safety in our City, but will also provide some additional revenue for the City at a time when we need it."


 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz 
(212) 788-2958