New NC app lets you report litterbugs
Tired of seeing people littering on North Carolina roadsides? There's a new app for that.
The state Department of Transportation has launched a mobile form to allow users to report others who throw litter out of their cars.
The "Swat-A-Litterbug" app asks for the date and time, location, the license plate number of the offender and a brief description of what was thrown out of the vehicle. The tipster remains anonymous.
NCDOT forwards the tip to the State Highway Patrol, which then sends a letter to the address associated with the license plate number, explaining that a person in that car has been seen littering and detailing the economic costs, environmental impact and potential civil penalties for it.
No penalties will be imposed based on an app report, says DOT's Harris Kay.
"It's entirely informative – it has to be, because the reporting is anonymous and people make mistakes," Kay said.
But officials are hoping the letter will deter future littering by shaming the driver and reminding them that littering is a crime.
Kay says the "Swat-A-Litterbug" program has been around since the late 1980s via a toll-free number, 1-800-331-5864, and, more recently, an online reporting form.
In 2019, more than 8,000 litterbug letters were sent out. But in 2020, due to the pandemic and budgetary constraints, only 3,000 were sent.
Kay says the program is back up to full speed for 2021, and officials are hoping the new app will expand its reach "to allow more citizens to get involved in this, and to spread the word of the importance of not dirtying our roadways."
The mobile form is not in the traditional app stores.
"Go to ncdot.gov/litter, and from there you'll be given instructions," depending on whether your phone is iOS or Android, Kay said.
"The very first pop-up is 'Do not report while driving,'" Kay added. "Do NOT operate your phone while operating a vehicle."
More than 3 million pounds of litter has already been collected this year from North Carolina roadsides, Kay said.
