San José Focuses on Enforcement to Prevent Litter from Uncovered Trucks

Mayor Gonzales continues successful anti-litter and anti-graffiti efforts through partnership with Sheriff, CHP and San José police

San Jose --- An anti-litter partnership between the San José Police Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and California Highway Patrol will focus on litter prevention by enforcing laws requiring tarps on open trucks, San José Mayor Ron Gonzales announced today.

“We will keep our neighborhoods clean by preventing litter as well as cleaning it up,” said Gonzales.  “Through public education and law enforcement, we will build on our successful partnerships to achieve our goal of making San José the cleanest big city in the nation.” 

Over the next month the Sheriff’s Office, CHP and San José police will be issuing warnings to drivers of trucks that have uncovered loads and as they approach landfill disposal sites.  Under state law, trucks must cover loads with tarps to prevent litter and debris from blowing on to city streets and highways. After the period of active warnings, law enforcement agencies will issue citations starting in December.

As part of the anti-litter educational effort, Orchard Supply Hardware donated 200 free tarps that San José will distribute to non-commercial haulers while the supply lasts. 

“Our community’s efforts to reduce graffiti and litter have been successful because of the broad partnerships we have developed over the last several years with other agencies and businesses,” said Rick Stanton, supervisor of the San José anti-litter and anti-graffiti program.

 “We also have enlisted about 3000 volunteers who have been terrific to help make sure our neighborhoods, streets, and parks stay clean of graffiti and litter.”

According to San José Police Chief William Lansdowne, a clean community is a critical part of keeping San José neighborhoods safe.  “Clean streets reflect the pride of residents in their neighborhoods, and that pride is the foundation for the kind of direct community involvement that is so important to community policing.

“That’s why we are working with our law enforcement partners to educate people about litter prevention and enforce the tarp requirements so that there will be less trash on our streets.”

Achieving compliance with truck-tarping laws is part of the city’s “Pick Up San José” anti-litter program that Mayor Gonzales launched earlier this year.  The program focuses on litter eradication, enforcement and education to clean up the city’s streets.

The anti-litter campaign builds on the city’s successful anti-graffiti program.  Since Mayor Gonzales made graffiti reduction a city priority in 1999, San Jose has been successful at cutting graffiti in the city by 92 percent.

Gonzales announced the expansion to include anti-litter at his State of the City address in February this year, and the new effort and partnerships were launched on Earth Day in April.

San José residents interested in helping fight graffiti and litter, or who want to report problem areas, should call the city’s 24/7 Customer Service Call Center at (408) 277-4000.