Chapter 8.48
LITTERING1
Sections:
8.48.020 Definition of litter.
8.48.030 Deposit in public places.
8.48.040 Deposit on private property.
8.48.045 Handbills – Throwing, distributing in public places.
8.48.046 Handbills – Placing on vehicles.
8.48.047 Handbills – Depositing on uninhabited, vacant property.
8.48.050 Enforcement officers and procedures.
8.48.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to accomplish litter control in the city. This chapter is intended to place upon all persons within the city the duty of contributing to the public cleanliness of the city and appearance in order to promote the public health, safety and welfare and to protect the economic interests of the people of the city against unsanitary and unsightly conditions. It is further the intent of this chapter to protect the people against the health and safety menace and the expense incident to littering. [Ord. 745 § 1, 1984.]
8.48.020 Definition of litter.
“Litter” for purposes of this chapter means all waste material including, but not limited to, all garbage, refuse, rubbish, containers, packages, wrappings, printed matter, or other material thrown or deposited as herein prohibited. [Ord. 745 § 4, 1984.]
8.48.030 Deposit in public places.
No person, shall throw, drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter upon any street, sidewalk or park or other public property in the city or upon any private property not owned by such person, or in any waters within the jurisdiction of the city whether from a vehicle or otherwise except in litter receptacles. [Ord. 745 § 2, 1984.]
8.48.040 Deposit on private property.
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any private property within the city, whether owned by such person or not, except that the owner or person in control of the private property may maintain private receptacles for collection or disposal. The maintenance of compost piles contained within a physical structure, and the temporary storage of building, construction, landscaping and similar materials shall be allowed except as otherwise expressly prohibited in this chapter or other ordinances, laws or regulations. [Ord. 745 § 3, 1984.]
8.48.045 Handbills – Throwing, distributing in public places.
No person shall throw or deposit any handbill in or upon any sidewalk, street or other public place within the city. [Ord. 904 § 1, 1992.]
8.48.046 Handbills – Placing on vehicles.
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any vehicle within the city; provided, however, that it is not unlawful in any public place for a person to hand out or distribute without charge to the receiver thereof a handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to accept it. [Ord. 904 § 2, 1992.]
8.48.047 Handbills – Depositing on uninhabited, vacant property.
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any private residence or other private property which is temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant. [Ord. 904 § 3, 1992.]
8.48.050 Enforcement officers and procedures.
Enforcement of this chapter may be by any police officer or other official designated by the city. All such authorized officers are empowered to issue citations to persons violating the provisions of this chapter. Said officers may serve and execute all warrants, citations and other process issued by the courts. [Ord. 745 § 6, 1984.]
8.48.060 Violation – Penalty.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and shall be punished by a monetary penalty in the maximum amount authorized by Chapter 7.80 RCW. [Ord. 1026 § 2, 1996; Ord. 745 § 5, 1984.]
For statutory provisions regarding litter control, see Chapter 70.93 RCW.