The N.C. Department of Transportation announced today an increase in the number of roadside littering incidents reported through the Swat-A-Litterbug program. More than 11,700 littering reports were received and processed from Jan. 1 through Dec. 30, 2009. This represents a 20 percent increase from the 9,600 reports processed in 2008.

“This increase in reports shows that North Carolinians are tired of seeing people litter and are continuing support of the department’s Swat-A-Litterbug program,” said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “Through this program, all North Carolinians can do their part to reduce litter and educate motorists who intentionally dispose of unwanted trash onto the state’s roadsides.”

NCDOT’s Office of Beautification Programs and the N.C. State Highway Patrol administer the Swat-A-Litterbug program. Motorists observed littering are sent a letter, signed by the colonel of the State Highway Patrol. The letter notifies recipients they were seen littering and informs them that littering is an illegal and fineable offense. Fines for littering range from $250 to $2,000 and can include a point on the offender’s driver license, as well as community service work.

Information required to make a report includes the vehicle's license plate number, date and time of the incident, street name, city, county and a description of the littering offense observed. A report can be submitted through the mail, over the phone or online through the Office of Beautification Programs’ Swat-A-Litterbug Web site.

For more information about the department’s anti litter efforts or to make a Swat-A-Litterbug report online, visit www.ncdot.gov/~beautification. To call in a Swat-A-Litterbug report, contact the NCDOT Customer Service Office at 1-877-DOT-4YOU. Mail-in Swat-A-Litterbug cards can be obtained by calling the Office of Beautification Programs at 1-800-331-5864.