New Louisiana Litter Ticket System Could Cost You Big Time

LOUISIANA (KMDL-FM) - Louisiana is getting serious about cleaning up its roads and communities, and if you’re caught littering, it could hit your wallet hard. A new enforcement system is now in place across Louisiana, allowing authorities to issue tickets directly to litter offenders, sometimes without ever pulling them over.

How Louisiana’s New Littering Ticket System Works

Under the updated Louisiana law, littering violations can now result in tickets being mailed directly to offenders instead of just warnings.

Louisiana officials say the system relies heavily on reports from witnesses and evidence like photos, videos, and license plate information. Once verified, citations can be issued without an officer witnessing the act in person.

READ MORE: Strange Louisiana Laws You Probably Haven't Heard of

This marks a major shift from previous enforcement, which often relied on catching someone in the act.

From WAFB.com -

The state sent out 870 letters last year warning people not to litter. Under a law passed last year, anyone caught littering will now receive a ticket in the mail instead. Since the program went live two weeks ago, there are already 15 cases scheduled for the litter court in September.

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Fines For Littering In Louisiana Can Reach $1,000

Here’s what violators could face:

Up to $175 for simple littering (like unsecured trash blowing from a vehicle)
Up to $250 for intentional littering
$500 to $1,000 for serious offenses like illegal dumping

In some cases, offenders may also be required to complete community service, including litter cleanup programs.

READ MORE: Louisiana, Is It Illegal to Blow Grass Clippings Into the Street?

You Can Be Reported For Littering

One of the biggest changes? Other people can report you. Louisiana encourages residents to report littering through a statewide hotline, providing details like license plate numbers, location of the incident, photos or video evidence

If enough evidence is collected, a ticket can be issued, even days later.

To report any potential littering violations, you can call the Louisiana anti-litter hotline at 855-LA-Litter.Read more at WAFB.com.