Yesterday (Tuesday, April 22) – on Earth Day – the Common Council voted unanimously in adopting a new flat penalty of $5,000 for anyone arrested and convicted of illegal dumping in the City of Milwaukee.
Common Council file #241904 – authored by Alderwoman Andrea M. Pratt and with Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa as primary co-sponsor – increases the forfeiture for illegal dumping from a range of $1,500 – $5,000 to a flat amount of $5,000. Under the ordinance, each incidence of a dumping violation constitutes a separate offense, meaning two convictions for two dumping violations would cost the violator $10,000.
If a convicted violator does not pay the penalty amount, he/she will be subject to imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than 100 days.
Alderwoman Pratt, whose 1st Aldermanic District has been serially targeted by illegal dumpers with tires, appliances, construction debris, and many other items, said she is grateful for the full support of her colleagues.
“We are sending a unified message that we are here to protect the health, safety and welfare of our constituents in every neighborhood in Milwaukee, and we will be going after illegal dumpers with the full fury and force of the law,” Alderwoman Pratt said.
The Alderwoman is also calling on residents to report illegal dumping incidents as quickly as possible to Milwaukee Police at 414-933-4444. “If you see something, please say something (to police) as soon as possible so we can catch and prosecute these criminals who are damaging and violating places where families and other residents are just living their lives,” she said. “These residents do not deserve the desecration that is going on where they live.”
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