In recent Rants and Raves columns we have heard numerous complaints about littering of our community — mainly trash along our major thoroughfares.

Certainly we all have seen this. Some of us have even witnessed bags of trash being tossed out car windows — not just a loose piece of paper being blown out of the back of a truck. Quite often these are food bags from fast food restaurants.

Obviously, these acts come from people who have little respect for their community. One must ask how much energy would it take to just hold onto that trash until one can drop it off in a cannister?

Some of these acts occur in traffic where the perpetrator of this crime — and yes, it’s a crime — has to know they are being seen. It’s like they are doing it with an “in-your-face” attitude.

It would be safe to say that 90 percent of the litter along our roadways did not get there accidentally … as in being blow from a vehicle or from some other location.

And as someone said in the Rants and Raves, we must wonder about their mental acuity.

Of course we still have public dumping where some people drive down remote roads and throw out bags or garbage, old appliances and worn-out tires.

Quite often, animals get into these bags and make the situation even worse by scattering the debris. And we all know what old tires can do for the mosquito population.

Maybe that aforementioned mentally is one that says, “What’s one little hamburger wrapper?”

Well, multiply that mentality by hundreds, maybe thousands and the math prints that ugly picture that the people are ranting about.

As far as the mowers grinding litter into confetti, the DOT or whoever is in charge of that cleaning should make an assessment before sending the mowers into such a situation.

As for those who have no respect for their community in this venue of stewardship, perhaps it’s time for a crackdown. When’s the last time fines have been imposed in this regard? 

Of course the chances of a law enforcement officer witnessing such an offender in the act might be slim and citizens getting tag numbers might be difficult to prosecute. The fact is, about the only answer to this problem lies with a greater integrity in the individual. Can we get there?In recent Rants and Raves columns we have heard numerous complaints about littering of our community — mainly trash along our major thoroughfares.

Certainly we all have seen this. Some of us have even witnessed bags of trash being tossed out car windows — not just a loose piece of paper being blown out of the back of a truck. Quite often these are food bags from fast food restaurants.

Obviously, these acts come from people who have little respect for their community. One must ask how much energy would it take to just hold onto that trash until one can drop it off in a cannister?

Some of these acts occur in traffic where the perpetrator of this crime — and yes, it’s a crime — has to know they are being seen. It’s like they are doing it with an “in-your-face” attitude.

It would be safe to say that 90 percent of the litter along our roadways did not get there accidentally … as in being blow from a vehicle or from some other location.

And as someone said in the Rants and Raves, we must wonder about their mental acuity.

Of course we still have public dumping where some people drive down remote roads and throw out bags or garbage, old appliances and worn-out tires.

Quite often, animals get into these bags and make the situation even worse by scattering the debris. And we all know what old tires can do for the mosquito population.

Maybe that aforementioned mentally is one that says, “What’s one little hamburger wrapper?”

Well, multiply that mentality by hundreds, maybe thousands and the math prints that ugly picture that the people are ranting about.

As far as the mowers grinding litter into confetti, the DOT or whoever is in charge of that cleaning should make an assessment before sending the mowers into such a situation.

As for those who have no respect for their community in this venue of stewardship, perhaps it’s time for a crackdown. When’s the last time fines have been imposed in this regard? 

Of course the chances of a law enforcement officer witnessing such an offender in the act might be slim and citizens getting tag numbers might be difficult to prosecute. The fact is, about the only answer to this problem lies with a greater integrity in the individual. Can we get there?