Illegal Dumping Crack-Down

Illegal dumpers beware. The City of Erie is keeping an eye on you.  Code enforcement officials have placed infrared cameras in trouble spots throughout the city hoping to crack down on illegal dumping.

Anything from tires to refrigerators and garbage are found on a daily basis in various trouble spots throughout the city.  Dark vacant areas are prime spots for people with unwanted trash and junk to simply dump it. But now, the City of Erie's Code Enforcement office is using technology to crack down on the illegal activity. Officials have mounted high-tech infrared cameras up on trees and telephone poles to keep an eye on these people dumping... day or night.

And the issue with the illegal dumping is the property owner becomes responsible for trash that may not even be their own. Then, ultimately, the city ends up paying for the clean-up.

Code enforcement officials are teaming up with Erie Police in the matter, by using a criminal code to charge those caught on camera.

So far, 2 people have been caught on camera and face charges of illegal dumping and up to a $1,000 fine.