Read more about local beautification efforts in the June/July 2025 feature story.
Local law enforcement does not routinely patrol for litterbugs, but it does stay busy upholding laws aimed at keeping their jurisdiction beautiful and environmentally safe.
Data provided by Evansville Police Department show that officers wrote 10 citations for littering in 2024. EPD Sgt. Anthony Aussieker shares that although littering is a Class B infraction that carries a fine, there’s a catch: Because it is classified as an infraction, officers must witness the offense to enforce it.
Similarly, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson says deputies issue a citation if someone is caught in the act of littering. Fines can soar up to $1,000 but usually are closer to $175 after court costs, he says. Illegal dumping of garbage, whether on public or private property, is an ordinance violation with fees ranging from $50 to $500.
Another type of litter — albeit on a larger scale — is abandoned vehicles. Those left on the side of the road by their owners are one type, but Robinson says his department can cite property owners who allow vehicles to sit on their property, causing not only an eyesore but also potentially leaking harmful automotive fluids into the ground. As an ordinance violation, it has the same fee range.
A means for county residents to report any of these offenses is through the sheriff’s office’s revamped Neighborhood-Based Policing program. The county is split into 32 zones, with one deputy assigned to each zone. Tips on litter or other offenses can be left anonymously with the deputy. “Most people are probably not going to call 911 for littering, illegal dumping, or abandoned vehicles,” Robinson says. “We were looking for a way to lower that barrier of reporting.”
In addition, Robinson says that the sheriff’s office, work release, solid waste district, county council, and Keep Evansville Beautiful are collaborating on a future program designed to have a significant impact on the amount of trash visible in the county.
“We are attempting to address the quality-of-life issues that are of concern to our citizens,” Robinson says.
