Dunmore, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) have collaborated to discuss penalties for littering and littering in a Litter Enforcement Corridor.
PennDOT and PSP held a press event today in Lackawanna County to explain what Litter Enforcement is, why it’s important, and what the penalties are for littering.
“PennDOT Engineering District 4 is proud to continue our partnerships with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Department of Corrections (SCI Waymart and Dallas), and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful today to highlight our efforts to reduce littering in Northeast PA.” said Loni Tomaine, P.E., Acting Assistant District Executive of Maintenance, PennDOT Engineering District 4.
Litter Enforcement Corridors have a high aesthetic or historic value worth preserving or need some additional help with litter issues. Approved segments are marked with signs to notify motorists of additional litter fines: doubled penalties for motorists caught scattering rubbish and tripled when it is done by a commercial business. Litter Enforcement Corridors also offer increased safety for workers or volunteers who are picking up trash in a designated corridor.
When drivers in these areas see traffic control devices, they must yield the right of way, as in a construction work zone. For this reason, it’s important to plan a cleanup event with local or state authorities involved when possible.
For more information on establishing a Litter Enforcement Corridor, consult PennDOT’s Roadside Enforcement Manual on PennDOT’s website.
Additionally, PennDOT is in search of volunteers to participate in the northeast region's Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program, which involves cleaning litter from state-owned roadsides.
Roadways and other areas can be adopted by individuals or organized groups such as clubs, schools, churches, businesses, and families. In return for their participation, PennDOT posts signs along the roadway giving the volunteers credit for their efforts.
Gloves, trash bags, and safety vests for the cleanup campaign are provided by PennDOT, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Pick Up Pennsylvania, which runs from March 1 to May 31.
Interested groups and individuals can sign up for the program by going online at www.adoptahighway.penndot.pa.gov, where they can also do the following:
- Apply for the program online.
- Use an interactive map to 'point and click' to select a roadway when applying.
- Request supplies for an event.
- Enter trash collection requests.
- Notify PennDOT after the event that bags are ready for pick-up.
- Update group information, such as contact name, phone number, and email address.
- Renew or cancel an agreement.
Returning groups are reminded to renew their commitment to the clean-up effort by completing the online form every two years.
Additional information on the Pick Up Pennsylvania and Adopt-A-Highway is available online at www.penndot.pa.gov.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.
Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D4Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Elizabeth Fabri, efabri@pa.gov or 570-963-3502Jessica Ruddy, jeruddy@pa.gov or 570-963-4044
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