fined for picking up trash . THIS MAKES ME SICK !!!!

That poor furloughed worker who just got a nice paid vacation and in some states is being allowed to collect unemployment for their vacation is just getting by.

Similar laws exist all over the US, the fact of the matter is, is that a person needs to know the laws in their area. Totally absurd that the first time he gets caught he gets hit with a $100 fine, if I were him I would check into entrapment laws in that area.

There would be total uproar in my area if a law like that was ever passed, or was trying to be passed. IMO if someone gets frauded because they are stupid enough to put papers with BANK/CREDIT CARD NUMBERS in the trash, well thats their own fault. It should be up to the person to keep their stuff safe. I never ever ever put any personal info in the trash. Thats just asking for trouble

Honestly i think its like speeding, people are still gonna do it nomatter what law is in place. I think its a waste, a little fine like that wont stop people from potentially stealing thousands from others.

Article stated: It issues tickets because its trying to prevent identity thieves from going through "recycling bins". Any bin marked or labeled would be theft if taken from. In this case sounds like entrapment.

I would expect to see more of this. I look at it as a positive. The amount of curb shoppers is out of control around here. I think it establishes the fact homeowners are going to have to take responsibility for what they put out for garbage. People around here take advantage that scrappers will pickup almost anything they put out. They disregard laws like electronics disposal or even proper hours of when you can set your garbage out. Its like feeding geese; you feed one next thing you know you have 50 in your yard. I own and operate a junk company. Business is affected by curbshoppers. The problem with it is: distinguishing who is in fact out in your garbage and what is their intent; it also is a problem because homeowners do not follow rules and laws, they unknowingly create a safety and liability for themselves when someone uninsured is on their property.

I myself do still curbshop. mainly if I see something I grab it. I don't think everyone uses common sense if there is a bike or mower I knock on the door. They can easily be mistaken for trash, I always see little kids drop their bikes in random spots sometimes near trash on trash day. Kids don't make the correlation and lets face it most scrappers will take it without regard to fill their truck. Ive also seen a lot of people mowing their lawn on trash day stop the mower by the garbage area to go get a drink or lawn bags or gas or whatever and they are out of sight. Scrappers generally will grab and go. Its the start of regulation, regulation starts when there are too many people trying to one unregulated thing.

From a scrappers prospective: it may be silly, sound like harrasement, nit picking government, politics. Think about it in the larger picture. The world does not revolve around us we are part of a larger picture. Organize yourself in a professional manner. Think about if curbshopping is illegal. It creates a niche market the honest hardworking scrappers could enjoy. People would actually have to call you for a scrap pick up instead of you aimlessly driving around scavenging for scrap. You think someone dishonest, illegal, immoral thieves are going to go out and do all that? Embrace it if it happens, I know I will.

Russell you make a very good point. I havent got a call from my ad in weeks.. If curb shopping is made illegal, the calls will start coming in again. It may take a while but hey itll happen. But i will also continue to curb shop in my area until that day comes.

Thanks for that, never really thought that deeply into the subject.

As the old saying goes, "Don't lie, cheat or steal - the government hates the competition."

Very interesting point and lots of great conversation about this.

My first thought about this is to go to court and ask for a jury trial. Of course, hiring a lawyer for this would be cost prohibitive, I would take the chance and represent myself, or try and find someone to handle it pro bono.

All laid out, a jury should find as not guilty.

The "officer" on record saw an item and laid in wait for someone to grab it in my opinion. Is that entrapment? probably not. Is that a waste of the tax payer dollars? definitely. If they had set the items in question out themselves, then maybe an entrapment case could be made. Again, this is all just my opinion as I am not a lawyer.

Should enforcement of raiding from recycling bins be stopped? yes, but this was not in questi0on here. My city currently makes about $40,000 per month from what is in the recycle bins, That figure is getting ready to go up as we will be getting one large lidded bin rather than 2 small bins and we will be going to one single stream recycling. They predict a 50% increase, based on statistics, by introducing one bin with single stream recycling which will mean $60,000 per month for my town. I can support this because when those numbers go up, my home owner taxes won't.

I have strayed a bit from the original post, but tried to address a similar topic. Sounds like it should be free game to me based on the intent of the law, hence why I would request a jury trial and maybe even represent myself.

Again, the above is just an opinion, and I have no legal experience.

Your kidding yourself if you think recycling is going to keep your taxes down. What happens when a twp gets more income? The board will vote themselves a raise or make up a new position for cousin so and so.

Have at least five guys on my trash route and some of them do steal. I've been hit by them before and so have the neighbors. Cops don't do **** when they are called about metal, batteries and toy thefts. People walk into yards all the time a steal what they say is free recycle for them. We do have laws here on just that subject.

welcome to the new Amerika circa 2000. actually it has been coming for decades but just got into hi gear in 2000.