Keeping Our Communities Clean

I have done some traveling in my past. I've seen a lot of places in the cities, neighborhoods, and country living areas—filthy. I can't stand a filthy community. One thing I hate with a passion: when you go fishing at a lake, river or a pond, it is polluted with all kinds of trash and old bottles. Oh my God, littering. Just because they feel like they can, I guess. To me, that is sad when you have all these trashcans available.

People, we need to keep our communities clean for our health's safety. A lot of pollution can cause health problems amongst other things.

I have a question: why are we still holding onto these abandoned buildings and torn down houses? Everybody wants to complain, "Oh, that's the crack house or a place for criminals to go." If you're not going to utilize something, why not destroy it? Why are we keeping these yards frull of junk; old furniture; cars not being used or fixed and trashed all in these ditches? Some people don't even keep their own yards mowed and clean. And litter is a big problem in a lot of communities. What is so hard about putting your own trash in the garbage? Not a thing. I can reflect back when I was growing up. My mom and dad would have us pick up trash and bottles surrounding our neighborhood on Saturdays.

Listen, people: a little community service will not hurt you. It's up to you to keep your yards, town, and neighborhoods clean. Now, let's visit the serious side of this talk. Littering in public or private property or waters; enforcing personal O.C.G.A 16-7-43.

(a.) It shall be unlawful for any person to dump, deposit, throw, or leave or to cause to permit the dumping, deposit, placing, throwing or leaving of litter on any public or private property in this state or in any waters in this state unless:
(1.) The area is designated by the state or by any of its agencies or political subdivision for the disposal of the litter, and the person is authorized by the proper public authority to do use such area.
(2.) The litter is placed into non-disposable litter receptacle or container designed for the temporary storage of litter and located in an area designated by the owner or tenant in lawful possession of the property or
(3.)The person is the owner or tenant in lawful possession of such property or has just obtained consent of the owner or tenant in lawful possession unless the act is done under the personal direction of the owner or tenant, all in a manner consistent with the public welfare

(B.)(1.) any person who violates subsection (a.) of this code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2.) In addition to the punishment provided under paragraph (1.) of this subsection

(A.) In the sound discretion of the court, the person may be directed to pick up and remove from any public street or highway on public right of way for a distance not to exceed one mile. Any litter the person has deposited and any and all liter deposited there by anyone else prior to the date of execution of sentence; or
(B.) In the sound discretion by the judge of the court, the person may be directed to pick up and remove from any public beach, public park, private right of way or with the prior permission of the legal owner or tenant in lawful possession of such property. Any private property upon which it can be established by competent evidence that the person has deposited litter, any and all litter deposited there on by anyone prior to the date of execution of sentence.
(C.) The court may publish the names of persons convicted of violating section (a.) of this code section.

Written by Jennifer Johnson