VALDOSTA — Litter bugs beware.

The Valdosta Police Department will aggressively enforce city litter laws, and citations, ranging from fines of nearly $200 to $700, will be issued, according to a VPD statement regarding zero tolerance of litter.

“Over the past several years, Valdosta has seen an increasing problem in the area of litter,” according to the VPD memorandum. “The problem is becoming worse and is taking up valuable time of the city public works department who must pick up trash on a daily basis alongside the roadways in the city versus handling their normal trash routes. Therefore, effective immediately, the Valdosta Police Department will aggressively start stopping and citing motorists and pedestrians when we see litter. Citations will be issued.

“If you throw out trash from your vehicle, drop litter on the street as a pedestrian, and/or you are caught illegally dumping, you will be issued a citation and face a severe fine.”

Aaron Strickland, executive director of Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful, said the VPD measure is likely the only way to combat litter on city streets. KLVB is dedicated to clean-up and beautification efforts throughout the city and county.

“With adults, the only way to really reach them is through enforcement,” Strickland said. “Someone gets a ticket and that will keep them from repeating that behavior again.”

KLVB picks up litter through volunteer programs such as Adopt a Street in the city and Adopt a Road in the county. The joint city-county beautification program also spearheads local participation in the Great American Cleanup scheduled for April 21. And issues the annual city-county litter index.

Strickland said people receiving citations and people concerned about receiving citations could change behavior.

“It’s pointless to have these laws on the books if they are not enforced,” Strickland said. “So, this is a great thing.”

Current litter laws include:

40-6-249 Littering highway: “Any person littering a highway in violation of Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 16 or driving, moving, or loading for operation a vehicle in violation of Code Section 40-6-248.1 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in Code Section 16-7-43.”

16-7-43 Littering: “(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw, or leave or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing, or leaving of litter on any public or private property in this state or any waters in this state, unless:

“(1) The area is designated by the state or by any of its agencies or political subdivisions for the disposal of litter and the person is authorized by the proper public authority to so use such area;

“(2) The litter is placed into a non-disposable litter receptacle or container designed for the temporary storage of litter and located in an area designated by the owner or tenant in lawful possession of the property; or

“(3) The person is the owner or tenant in lawful possession of such property or has first obtained consent of the owner or tenant in lawful possession or unless the act is done under the personal direction of the owner or tenant, all in a manner consistent with the public welfare.”

Fines for littering range from $196 to $675, depending on the offense circumstances, according to the VPD.