“We are not trying to be mean or nasty,” Jones said. “But this is not a dump site, and that is what it looked like some times.”
Inmates are tasked with sweeping up the butts as well as other litter dropped on the grounds. The sheriff said they have noticed about a 30 percent decrease in dropped cigarette butts.
Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said he was talking with an inmate tasked with cigarette butt-sweeping duty.
“He said, ‘I am a smoker and used to do the same thing. I will never do it again,’ ” Dwyer said.
The signs have been posted for several months and the first five days they were out, Jones said a deputy was stationed outside as a reminder.
A handful of tickets have been written for those caught littering, Jones said.
“There isn’t a stench of cigarette smoke and people are reminded it is littering,” Jones said. “No one wants to pay a $500 fine.”
About the Author
