Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and City Councilmember Zac Unger will introduce a new ordinance next week to increase the penalties for illegal dumping.
If approved, the new rules would more than double the fines for dumping trash on Oakland streets, parks, sidewalks and other spaces to $1,500 for the first offense, $2,500 for the second and $5,000 for the third.
It would also eliminate a provision in the current city law that resets fine amounts after three years.
“This ordinance is the culmination of months of work by our team, the Mayor’s office, and city staff,” Unger said in a news release Monday. “I get calls all the time about illegal dumping and what we are doing to solve the problem. This legislation takes tangible action to mitigate and dissuade illegal dumping across Oakland.”
The ordinance would also make it a crime for anyone who owns a car to use it or allow it to be used for illegal dumping and for people to haul trash without a license plate on their vehicle.
It aims to streamline the city’s administrative fine process to make enforcement faster and more effective and people who are caught will have the option to perform community service instead of paying the ticket.
The proposed ordinance will go to the Public Works and Transportation Committee on March 24.