SEVERAL lawmakers have tried to revise, amend or improve the Commonwealth Litter Control Act of 1989, hoping for better enforcement, but no change has been made and enforcement has remained weak, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality Administrator Frank Rabauliman said.
Now that Rep. Angel Demapan is proposing to amend the law through House Bill 19-20, BECQ, one of the seven agencies tasked to enforce the anti-littering law, is hoping that lawmakers will take it seriously this time, Rabauliman added.
Demapanâs bill sets the fine for littering at a minimum of $25 and not to exceed $5,000.
Rabauliman expressed his support for the measure.
âThe idea of revising the law has been on the lawmakersâ table for the past eight years, but nothing has happened and the issue dropped,â he added.
He said BECQ supports Demapanâs move, but also hopes that the first step will lead to the final step.
Nothing materialized as a result of the previous discussions to amend the law, he added.
âI hope. I really hope that this time something is going to happen,â Rabauliman said.
The revision of the law is timely because there are many littering violations happening on island, he added.
There are certified officers trained to enforce the law, but there is no formal structure as to how the seven agencies can coordinate their officers, Rabauliman said.
The other agencies tasked to enforce the law are the Saipan mayorâs office, the Departments of Public Safety, Commerce, Public Works, Land and Natural Resources and the now defunct Department of Public Health.
Government records show that there were 75 certified apprehending officers trained to enforce the law over the years.
Currently, the minimum fine for violating the Litter Control Act is $200 and the possibility of community service.
Rabauliman said although some of the apprehending officers have done their job, the collected fines, which were not a lot, went into the governmentâs general fund.
He said funding is important to ensure the success of a structured and organized circle of apprehending officers.
âThey should have a revolving fund for operations and gasoline for their vehicles,â he added.
Title :
BECQ hopes lawmakers will take revision of anti-littering law seriously
Description : SEVERAL lawmakers have tried to revise, amend or improve the Commonwealth Litter Control Act of 1989, hoping for better enforcemen...
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