House Passes Bill to Increase Penalties for Littering In West Virginia

House Bill 4014 will increase the criminal penalties for littering in West Virginia.

Part of the bill divides the level of offense by the quantity of the waste into the categories of “not exceeding 100 pounds or 27 cubic feet,” “greater than 100 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in, but less than 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet” and “greater than 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet.”

The penalty for each category is as follows, from the bill:

-Not exceeding 100 pounds or 27 cubic feet: “…a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, or in the discretion of the court, sentenced to perform community service by cleaning up litter from any public highway, road, street, alley or any other public park or public property, or waters of the state, as designated by the court, for not less than twenty-four nor more than sixteen hours one hundred hours, or both.”

-Greater than 100 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet, but less than 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet: “…shall be fined $2,000, or in the discretion of the court, may be sentenced to perform community service by cleaning up litter from any public highway, road, street, alley or any other public park or public property, or waters of the state, as designated by the court, for two hundred hours.”

-Greater than 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet: “…shall be fined not less than $2,500 or not more than $25,000 or confinement in jail for not more than one year or both.”

The bill would also double the penalty for a second or subsequent violation.

The bill passed unanimously and now moves on to the senate.