(a) The Board of Supervisors has determined that littering and illegal dumping are serious concerns that endanger the public health and safety within the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.
(b) The Board of Supervisors has further determined that persons who commit the act of littering or illegal dumping damage neighborhoods and the environment. The results of littering or illegal dumping can be severe. The blight, decay and unhealthful conditions created by littering and illegal dumping negatively impact the quality of life of County residents and lead to diminished property values. Illegally dumped waste quickly becomes hazardous to the environment. Tires, refrigerators, household hazardous materials, television and auto parts often contain toxins. Mice, rats and mosquitoes make illegally dumped waste their breeding habitat. These vectors can spread diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, encephalitis and Lyme disease. Littering frequently becomes a public nuisance. The Board of Supervisors finds that there is a need to provide additional deterrents to littering and illegal dumping. The Board of Supervisors has further determined that anyone caught committing the act of littering or illegal dumping faces citation and arrest or administrative or civil enforcement actions.
(c) The procedures contained in this Chapter for the citation and arrest of, or administrative or civil action against, persons caught committing the act of littering or illegal dumping are expressly intended as a deterrent and remedy to further the abatement of littering and illegal dumping; to protect residents and the public at large from harm to their health, safety and welfare; to avoid destruction and injury to lives and property; and to compensate the County for damages incurred as a result of the occurrence of the nuisance activities. Examples of such damages are the costs of cleaning up litter and illegal dump sites and diverting limited public agency resources to address the nuisance activities through direct enforcement or other programs designed to prevent littering and illegal dumping.
(Ord. 4367, passed - -2019)