I RECENTLY traveled on Yarbrough Bend Road in Armuchee en route to the remote trash site. What I saw on this stretch of road was sickening. On both sides of the road some littering slob(s) had dumped 20-30 tires, remnants of carpeting and 10-15 outer boxes of electronics (i.e., computers and televisions) after stripping the insides for recycled parts. I have noticed mattresses, large appliances and trash thrown on this isolated stretch of road before, and I know there are other isolated roads throughout the county with the same littering problems. No doubt the county is spending thousands of dollars to clean up these areas.

I believe the solution to this lies in technology. A while back traffic video cameras were installed at two intersections in the city and county. However, these “safety” cameras were removed when they did not generate sufficient funds to cover their contract expenses.

I submit that this same technology can be utilized to identify and prosecute these littering slobs. This visual destruction of our community, in all probability, is being done at night. Wildlife management departments in many communities are using infrared cameras to nab poachers and many hunters are using this same technology to identify wild game patterns.

These cameras can be purchased for a few hundred dollars, strategically placed on isolated roads where littering problems exist then relocated to another site periodically. A littering fine of $1000 per incident will help deter this littering and easily cover the cost of the cameras Plus not one cent would go to the state as the red light fines did. Instead of using manpower to clean up after these slobs, use that same manpower to monitor and relocate cameras.