Existing law prohibits specified acts of littering on highways and highway rights-of-way, and prescribes mandatory fines for the violations of those prohibitions.
Existing law authorizes the court to require, as a condition of probation, in addition to any other condition of probation and the mandatory fine imposed upon a conviction, that any person convicted pursuant to these provisions pick up litter, as specified, for not less than 8 hours.
This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by requiring the court to order, with regard to a person convicted pursuant to these provisions, and in addition to the fines imposed pursuant to these provisions, that person to pick up litter or clean up graffiti, as specified, for 8, 16, or 24 hours for the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd or subsequent, conviction for violations of these provisions.
This bill would also provide that in no case is the court authorized to order imprisonment in the county jail for a violation punishable pursuant to these provisions.
This bill would declare legislative intent that persons convicted of highway littering be required to bear the penalty for their actions and would prohibit the court from suspending the mandatory fines required by these provisions, except as specified, in unusual cases where the interest of justice would best be served by suspension of the fine.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates which do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund for costs mandated by the state pursuant to this act, but would recognize that local agencies and school districts may pursue any available remedies to seek reimbursement for these costs.