WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators in Wayne County are on the lookout for polluters. Just west of Goldsboro, they are trying to figure out who has been dumping trash on a large tract of land.

Junk covers about 8 acres near a creek in Wayne County. It is all on private land that belongs to Dick Raynor. Most of the junk was dumped illegally by trespassers.

"You shouldn't do things like this because you make it hard on somebody who hasn't done anything," said Harold Raynor, Dick's brother.

County manager Lee Smith said the situation is the perfect example of why Wayne County is going to crack down on illegal dumping and highway litter.

"If we want to bring people to Wayne County, that's not the message we need to send," he said. "The district attorney is being talked to by the staff to see what they can do to help us, but as we do that, it may be that we need to increase our enforcement."

Violators could face $200 fines and even jail time in extreme cases. Commissioners hope that will convince people to kick an ugly habit.

Smith is also encouraging other government leaders to participate in a county-wide road cleanup next month.