THE STOCKTON CITY COUNCIL has approved a new illegal dumping ordinance that encourages members of the public to report illegal dumping.
Stockton Police Department Lieutenant Chuck Harris presented the ordinance during the council’s Sept. 10 meeting, breaking down the various elements of the system that would be created to facilitate new reports.
Harris noted that this ordinance would encourage members of the public to participate in reporting illegal dumping by offering an initial $50 reward and $200 once the case was resolved.
The council approved the ordinance on a 6-0 vote, with Councilmember Dan Wright absent. The ordinance will take effect Oct. 10, 30 days after its approval.
People who receive a violation notice may appeal the violations three times, beginning with a city internal review, then a third party analysis and finally the superior court to dismiss the violations.
Harris acknowledged that Stockton PD only arrested four individuals for illegal dumping in the past few years, noting that current rules prevented a more comprehensive enforcement of illegal dumping laws.
Enforcement has ‘been challenging’
“Up till this point its been challenging to arrest individuals responsible for illegal dumping because under the penal code the police officer has to be there and witness the illegal dumping to make the arrest,” said Harris.
The lackluster arrest record of SPD illegal dumping enforcement was a point of criticism from the 2023-24 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report which recommended the city to pass this ordinance.
Alongside the ordinance, a media campaign will follow suit with the City of Stockton partnering with the Stockton Crime Stoppers to educate the people on how to best report.
People can send tips on illegal dumping to the Stockton Crime Stoppers Hotline at 209-946-0600, via the online service website or through the P3 Tips app either on Apple or Android devices. Harris noted that people may send tips anonymously through the methods mentioned earlier.
Once the information has been reported, it will be sent to the Special Operations Division of SPD to assess for potential citation notices, with Public Works being dispatched to pick up the illegally dumped items.
The ordinance’s violators will initially be fined $1,000 for their first offense, $2,000 for the second violation, and $3,000 for subsequent violations over a year. The city may use some of the funds recovered from the violation to reimburse itself for the cost of enforcing the ordinance.
Adding to stigma of homelessness
Councilmember Michael Blower applauded the city’s effort in passing the ordinance, noting that illegal dumping contributed to the negative stigma homeless individuals were facing, highlighted during the most recent special meeting on the Grants Pass decision.
Blower stated “When we talked about the Grants Pass we had members of the homeless community that came and spoke and said ‘hey it’s not just us. People come up and (dump) stuff right in front of our encampment.’”
Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley agreed with Blower, saying that the passing of the ordinance is a significant step for the city in tackling the issue of illegal dumping, noting the videos of the violation.
“Most often, that trash and debris are created by people who don’t care. Today we are setting a tone to our city to people who choose to violate law by saying enough is enough.”
Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley
“Videos and pictures on social media has been consistent and heartbreaking,” said Warmsley. “All areas in Stockton are impacted by this gross behavior and (people) just nonchalantly begin to unpack their trucks and trailers.”
Warmsley shared with the council a moment when she, alongside SPD, saw a person unload used tires while walking in Mormon Slough to talk with the local community about pressing issues.
“Most often, that trash and debris are created by people who don’t care,” said Warmsley. “Today we are setting a tone to our city to people who choose to violate law by saying enough is enough.”
Councilmember Michele Padilla, who represents District 1, shared a similar story in which she saw people renovating a home throw out waste material on the street “with no shame.”
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
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