Crime & Safety

Palos Park To Get Tough On Litterbugs

Litter violations could result in a fine of $750.

Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney and Police Commissioner Dan Polk have announced that one component of the Village’s Litter Awareness program will include ticketing litterbugs.

Mayor Mahoney said, “Litter is a pervasive problem thatadversely affects the health, wealth and welfare of residents. As we move into spring, we are asking everyone to join us in our renewed effort to make anti-littering the mantra of Palos Park. Litter poses health risks, harms water quality and wildlife habitat, and is an offense against communities.”

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk said, “he wants to alert motorists that littering violations will result in police issuing actual tickets to anyone caught littering, and particularly from their vehicles. The fine for littering violations can be as high as $750 per violation.”

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Commissioner Polk announced the “ Pick it up or Pay it out” campaign, by asking all area residents and visitors to help reduce litter by participating in local cleanup efforts and encouraging one another to pick up litter whenever they see it and to not contribute to the problem themselves.

Some Primary sources of litter:

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  • Trucks with uncovered or unsecured loads on local roads and highways.
  • Pedestrians or cyclists who do not use the receptacles and motorists who do not use car ashtrays or litterbags.
  • Business dumpsters that are improperly covered.
  • Construction and demolition sites without tarps and receptacles to contain debris and waste.
  • Household trash scattered before or during collection

Mayor Mahoney elaborated on some interesting facts about the cost of litter to each of us. Did you know?

  • The IEPA has spent about $1 million in Markham last year to remove more than 56,000 tires, 10,400 tons of construction debris and household garbage, about 40 damaged boat hulls, auto parts, and drums of unknown liquids.
  • Litter can create fire hazards, cause vehicle accidents, clog and overload sewage systems, and pollute local rivers and streams.

Litter Costs Us

The cost to try to clean up litter strains federal and state budgets, businesses, transportation systems, schools, and our national parks. Littered communities also suffer from decreased tourism, reduced commerce, and declining property values.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that the elimination of vehicle-related road debris may prevent over 25,000 crashes and save up to 90 lives per year.

Help Out

Palos Park will hold a Rid Litter Day on April 28. Interested volunteers can meet in front of the at 9 a.m. 


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