<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Can you be fined for littering in Calcasieu Parish?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Yes.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The penalties for “intentional littering,” according to the parish code:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">First offense — $250 fine and eight hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Second offense — $500 fine and 16 hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Third and subsequent offense — $1,250 fine; one-year driver’s license suspension; and 80 hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Those convicted of intentional littering must pay $100 in special court costs.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The penalties for “simple littering” — an act of negligence meriting a civil citation — according to the parish code:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">First offense — $40 fine or eight hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Second and subsequent offense — $100 fine or 16 hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“If the litter is disposed</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">from a motor vehicle, boat, or conveyance, except a bus or large passenger vehicle or school bus … there shall be an inference that the driver of the conveyance disposed of that litter,” reads Section 11-113 of the code.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“If such litter was possessed by a specific person immediately before the act of disposing, there shall be an inference that the possessor committed the act of disposing.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The penalties for “gross littering” — i.e., the dumping of large items — according to the code:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">First offense — a fine of $500-$1,000 and eight hours in a litter</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Second offense — a fine of $1,000-$2,500 and 24 hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Third and subsequent offense — a fine of $1,500-$5,000; one-year driver’s license suspension; and 100 hours in a litter abatement program.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The judge may require an individual convicted of a violation of this Section to remove litter from state highways, public rights-of-way, public playgrounds, public parks. .. in lieu of the penalties prescribed,” reads the gross littering provision,</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Section 11-114.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“When litter disposed in violation of this section is discovered to contain any article or articles … which display the name of a person or in any other manner indicate that the article belongs or belonged to such person, there shall be an inference that such person has violated this section.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To report littering, call the parish hotline at 493-LITR.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Final note: The Police Jury provides two drop-off centers — at 5500 B Swift Plant Road East in Lake Charles and 2915 Post Oak Road in Sulphur. They’re open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Monday and are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cppj.net.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Parents contacted about missed bus</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">If a student misses the bus, is the teacher required to take the student home?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">No.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Administrators contact the parents or guardians of any students who miss the bus, school system officials said.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cpsb.org.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>