City officials will warn businesses and residents today against dumping large amounts of trash illegally, noting that the fines for such violations have gone up.
Under an ordinance that took effect last month, the Bureau of Street Services has the power to issue administrative citations for “illegal dumping.”
It increases increases fines to $500, $750 and $1000 for each successive violation in a 12-month period. A fourth violation would result in criminal prosecution as a misdemeanor offense.
Councilman Jose Huizar said illegal dumping costs the city about $12 million a year.
According to the Central City East Association, which offers cleanup services through its BID programs in the Arts & Industrial areas Downtown, there were 119 instances of illegal dumping in those areas in July 2010 alone.