Raleigh Streets Getting Trashy

The Department of Transportation says Hurricane Fran, recent coldweather and a lack of follow-up on the Adopt-A-Highway program have allcontributed to the problem. But, DOT says it is trying to clean the roads,one piece of trash at a time.

Director of State Beautification Carolyn Farmer Belch says mountingtrash is a by-product of a growing population.

The Adopt-A-Highway program uses 200,000 volunteers to keep the state's14,000 miles of highways clean, but it doesn't always work. DOTcontracts with inmate work crews to take up the slack and handle problemareas. Belch says it's not a perfect program.

Belch, who is taking over the Adopt-A-Highway program, says HurricaneFran and cold weather have put volunteers and DOT work crews behindschedule, but she intends to run a tighter ship by creating specificschedules for volunteers and making them more accountable.

DOT officials say some of the additional trash and debris falls offtrucks, but they know a great deal of it comes from people tossing trashout of their car windows. Fast food wrappers and beverage containers makeup a large portion of the litter.

If people are caught littering, there is the possibility of a $500fine, but the law is rarely enforced because a person must be caught inthe act. Only 400 people statewide were cited for littering last year.