(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Litter means any rubbish, waste material, cans, refuse, garbage, trash, debris or discarded material of every kind and description.
Watercraft means any boat or vessel, whether motorized or not, used for transport upon or across the water.
(b) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, organization or corporation to carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally throw, scatter, spill, or place or carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally permit to be blown, scattered, spilled, thrown or placed or otherwise disposed of any litter upon any public property or private property not owned by that person within the corporate limits or in the waters or marshlands located within the corporate limits of the village, including but not limited to all public highways, public parks, beaches, campgrounds, marshlands, roads, streets, alleys or waterways, except in such instances as the litter shall be deposited into litter receptacles in such a manner that the litter deposited therein shall be prevented from being carried away or deposited by the elements upon any part of such private or public property or waters.
(c) Vehicles and watercraft. When litter is carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally thrown, scattered, spilled or placed or carelessly, recklessly, or intentionally caused to be blown, scattered, spilled, thrown or placed from any vehicle or watercraft, the operator thereof shall be presumed to have committed such offense.
(d) Violation and penalty. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil citation carrying a penalty in the amount of $500.00 per offense pursuant to G.S. 160A-175, which penalty shall be exempt from prosecution under G.S. 14-4. The civil penalty shall be paid during regular business hours at the office of the Village Clerk or online at the village website within 48 hours of issuance of the civil citation. The village reserves the right to seek an appropriate equitable remedy to abate a violation of this section from a court of competent jurisdiction.
(Ord. No. 21A, § 1, 2-20-1998; Ord. No. 2001-026, § 1, 10-26-2001; Ord. No. 2021-0801, § 1, 8-20-2021)