County Calls for Litter Clampdown

Stephens County Commission Chair Dennis Bell says that the county needs to clamp down on litter.

Bell spoke on the topic during Tuesday’s county commission meeting.

He says he has talked with the sheriff and others about the matter and asked to put a letter out on behalf of the county addressing the matter.

In a letter issued by the Stephens County Board of Commissioners, people with a trash pick up service must have a fully enclosed container to ensure that no trash, debris, or litter falls from the truck while in transit.

The letter says that Stephens County will no longer tolerate trash, debris, and litter to fall from open side trash service trucks.

Also, the letter says that the county will no longer tolerate trash, litter, and debris from pick-up trucks or any other source that results in litter on county roads.

Bell says that residents who witness someone littering or see litter, trash, or debris between thrown from or falling out of vehicles should call the Stephens County 911 Center at 706-779-3911.

“Call the 911 center,” said Bell. “I want the dispatchers to keep you on the line until a deputy or game warden or the State Patrol gets there and they are going to issue some citations. That is the only way I know to stop it and it is got to be stopped.”

Bell says the Sheriff’s Office will enforce the county codes and adds that the county has requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division as well.

According to the county, any person guilty of a littering violation is subject of a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment as provided by county code and applicable state law.