The San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave final approval to an expansion of the Department of Public Works’ Surveillance Technology Policy to allow the department to use drones to catch people illegally dumping trash in the city.
The policy was also updated to implement a new camera system that consists of automatic license plate readers paired with movable cameras that will be installed around the city. In addition, anyone caught by the aerial enforcers could also soon face stiffer penalties under an ordinance introduced Tuesday by District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter that would increase fines for illegal dumping from the current maximum of $1,000.
Sauter called for a formal hearing on dumping to review progress on the issue since a report in October said not enough was being done to enforce existing rules. He said increasing fines would help the city recover the cost of cleaning up hazardous waste, construction and industrial debris, and bulky items, which he said can add up in staff time and often exceed the cost of the fine amount.
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Author: Thomas Hughes, Bay City News, NBC Bay Area
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