Your Approach

What you say and how you say it can create an atmosphere of cooperation.

• Let the agency or police know that you're interested in following your complaint through to clean up. This makes you part of the solution.
  
• Be patient. The response may not be as immediate as you want.
  
• Be persistent. Not every report results in a successful prosecution. Future reports may get the response you want.
  
• If one agent's or an agency's final response doesn't satisfy you, take your concerns to a higher level of the same agency or to a different agency.
  
• Even if you want your complaint handled anonymously, share your name and number. The agency may need to contact you for additional information. Be aware that anonymity may affect the priority of an agency response.

The Agency Approach

After you report an incident, the agency representative will investigate the problem to determine the extent of the violations. If evidence is found:

• Officers can ask violators to remove litter or trash in exchange for a reduced penalty.
  
• Police departments and some agencies can issue citations (tickets) at the site.
  
• Other agencies issue Notices of Violation.
  
• District Justices (Magistrates) hear cases that take place in their jurisdiction.

If a case is especially flagrant, it can be referred to the State Attorney General by the Department of Environmental Protection. Criminal cases heard by the Attorney General result in penalties or jail time, but may not result in clean up by the violator.

If no evidence is found, the enforcement agent can require cleanup or issue a citation to the property owner. Often agents are reluctant to do this when they believe that the property owner is the victim of other people's behavior.

Also see:

Table of Agencies

Why Contact an Agency?

Who to Contact

How to Follow Up on Your Complaint

How Collected Penalties are Used

Other Enforcement Topics:

The Problem The Harm

What to do if You Witness Someone Littering or Dumping Trash

What to do if You Find a Dump

The Laws

Beyond Enforcement...Other Ways to Help