Clint, Here’s an explanation of the Swat-A-Litterbug Program from the 2007
North Carolina Interagency Report On Litter Cleanup, Education/Prevention and Enforcement dated March 7, 2008.
Swat-A-Litterbug Program: The Office of Beautification Programs continued to administer the Swat-A-Litterbug program. The Swat-A-Litterbug Program is an educational tool intended to inform those observed littering, that it is illegal to litter.
Those observed littering can be reported using the Swat-A-Litterbug online at the Office of Beautification Programs Web site at www.ncdot.org/~beautification, through the mail or by calling the NCDOT Customer Service Office at 1-877-DOT-4YOU. Reports include information regarding the offender?s vehicle license plate number, time, date, street, city, county, and a description of the littering offense.
When reports are received, a letter signed by the Colonel of the N.C. State Highway Patrol is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle reported. The recipient is informed of the observed littering, that littering is illegal and that it?s a fineable offense upon conviction. There are no citations or warnings issued from these reports.
The program is totally anonymous and no record is kept regarding who submits or receives a letter. In 2007, more than 7,800 Swat-A-Litterbug letters were mailed to those observed littering ? in 2006 there were 8,250 and in 2005 more than 7,500.
How do I know about this? My daughter received a letter which came to my address. Apparently a “friend” threw a cigarette butt out her car window and yes, she found it pretty Orwellian.
