Talking trash tickets in Philadelphia

A Philadelphia City Councilman wants those who police trash on the streets to be more specific when writing a citation. 

When residents get a citation for putting out trash too early or not keeping a sidewalk clean, Councilman Bill Greenlee’s bill would require specific allegations.

“The famous line is ‘sidewalk not litter free,’ and until he or she gets to the hearing they won’t know what other evidence there may be,” said Greenlee. “Oftentimes the enforcement officer will give a violation that there is a trash bag on somebody’s sidewalk and they just assume that it belongs to the property owner.”

Councilman Greenlee says he wants people to know what they are accused of right away.

“What we have found is that oftentimes it is months after the violation that the person gets a hearing notice, and do you remember what you were doing on November 27, 2010 I don’t and do you remember what might have been around your property then,” he said.

The proposed changes would apply to both trash and recycling violations.