The following is from Officer K. Ketterman #4024, Precinct #4 Community Outreach Team, regarding people who leave dog poop, whether bagged or unbagged, on people’s lawns.
Anyone discarding a bag with dog feces on the roadway or on private property can be charged with Littering. This definitely shows intent which is needed to be charged with Littering. Attached is the Criminal Digest information for Littering. I would recommend sending out a notice to all the residents stating that with the offense attached. The main objective we have is to stop this from occurring and affecting residents in your community in the future. Hopefully a letter to all of the residents will open the eyes of the offender and this will stop.
Prohibited Offense
– Littering (c) A person may not: (1) dispose of litter on a highway or perform an act that violates the state vehicle laws regarding disposal of litter, glass, and other prohibited substances on highways; or (2) dispose or cause or allow the disposal of litter on public or private property unless: (i) the property is designated by the State, a unit of the State, or a political subdivision of the State for the disposal of litter and the person is authorized by the proper public authority to use the property; or (ii) the litter is placed into a litter receptacle or container installed on the property. (d) If two or more individuals are occupying a motor vehicle, boat, airplane, or other conveyance from which litter is disposed in violation of subsection (c) of this section, and it cannot be determined which occupant is the violator: (1) if present, the owner of the conveyance is presumed to be responsible for the violation; or (2) if the owner of the conveyance is not present, the operator is presumed to be responsible for the violation. (See statute for subsections (e) through (k).) Criminal Law Article § 10-110
Thank you,
Keith
Officer K. Ketterman #4024
Precinct #4 Community Outreach Team
215 Milford Mill Rd.
Pikesville, MD 21208