NYC Illegal-dumping fines up 46 percent

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NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- New York City records revealed the number of fines for illegally dumping residential trash in street bins increased by 46 percent in 2011.

The city Sanitation Department said the number of $100 fines increased from 2,512 in 2010 to 3,681 in 2011 partly due to an increase in complaints from residents and elected officials, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. of Queens said someone crammed a plastic garbage bag into the narrow opening of a street bin near his office last week. He said he wants to see the city increase the fine from $100 to $200 to discourage potential offenders.

"Clearly, more can be done when it comes to the abuses of our city garbage cans," Vallone said.