Iowa man fined $4K for littering

[cigaretteman]

A West Union man who allegedly turned the roadside into an impromptu dump is facing thousands of dollars in fines.
Fayette County sheriff’s deputies received a report about trash tossed into a ditch at Echo Valley and Imperial Roads near Echo Valley State Park on Sunday.

The pile included box springs, beds and several garbage bags.

Deputies were able to trace the debris back to Christopher Loren Ray Zuercher, 38, of West Union, formerly of Waterloo, according to the sheriff’s office. He was cited with 29 counts of littering on a highway, citations that resulted in $4,596 in fines.
In comparison, dumpster rental usually runs around $400.

Zuercher was also ordered to return to the area and remove all the garbage in the presence of deputies, according to the sheriff’s office.

 

[desihawk]

west union, singapore of the west.

 

[Colonoscopy]

west union, singapore of the west.

They do have some of the best lady boys in the midwest

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

It was once a nice town.

Echo Valley is a nice park.

 

[Pinehawk]

Good. Glad they caught him. Litterers are the worst.
Recently, I know of someone who caught a guy dumping an engine block out of the back of a Uhaul in a little wooded area. Who thinks that is ok? The fines should be stronger for something like that.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Went on a hike on the part of the military range that's open to the public out by Navarre. There are a few unpaved "roads" that go through it along with the trails.

Anyway, we're about 5 miles in and come across an abandoned boat and trailer. Looked like they'd been there for years. Weird...

People sure find out of the way places to get rid of their bulk trash.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Good. Glad they caught him. Litterers are the worst.
Recently, I know of someone who caught a guy dumping an engine block out of the back of a Uhaul in a little wooded area. Who thinks that is ok? The fines should be stronger for something like that.

I agree!

Why not jail time?

 

[JustSayOV]

He said, "Kid, we found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a—a half a ton of garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie. I put that envelope under that garbage."

 

[tumorboy]

Hang him. Litters are the worst.

 

[NoleATL]

Anyway, we're about 5 miles in and come across an abandoned boat and trailer. Looked like they'd been there for years. Weird...

I was once in northern Nevada and there was lots of abandoned things like this... cars, RVs, trailers, etc...

 

[Thunderlips71]

Good. If he does it again cut off his dirty hands. SOTU

 

[onlyTheObvious]

They also need to add something to littering.

Force them to pick up one ton of litter. Or double the fine and use the money to hire somebody to do it.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Hang him. Litters are the worst.

Hey now! You take that back...litters are the best!

 

[h-hawk]

When we go out birding we often see dumped trash along the airport frontage road (Des Moines) and along the country roads. Is having your garbage picked up really such a hassle or that expensive?

 

[Derekd3408]

This happened a couple times near my parents house growing up. I guess the landfill that is 12 miles away wasn't an option. People are so stupid.

 

[KFsdisciple]

A West Union man who allegedly turned the roadside into an impromptu dump is facing thousands of dollars in fines.
Fayette County sheriff’s deputies received a report about trash tossed into a ditch at Echo Valley and Imperial Roads near Echo Valley State Park on Sunday.

The pile included box springs, beds and several garbage bags.

Deputies were able to trace the debris back to Christopher Loren Ray Zuercher, 38, of West Union, formerly of Waterloo, according to the sheriff’s office. He was cited with 29 counts of littering on a highway, citations that resulted in $4,596 in fines.
In comparison, dumpster rental usually runs around $400.

Zuercher was also ordered to return to the area and remove all the garbage in the presence of deputies, according to the sheriff’s office.

I am fine with making him come back and get the stuff... I'd have rather seen a $200 fine and 20 hours of roadside trash pick-up.

 

[jonesy5960]

Hang him. Litters are the worst.

I don't know about hanging, but I'd be on board with 100 hours of community service picking up trash on the side of the road.

 

[tumorboy]

I don't know about hanging, but I'd be on board with 100 hours of community service picking up trash on the side of the road.

Couple days ago was turning onto 124th. Car right in front of me opens his door and shoves out about a weeks worth of fast food wrappers and drives off.

 

[Derekd3408]

Couple days ago was turning onto 124th. Car right in front of me opens his door and shoves out about a weeks worth of fast food wrappers and drives off.

I just don't understand this. I assume he gets gas at some point, just use the trash there while filling up. Good lord.

 

[millah_22]

This happened a couple times near my parents house growing up. I guess the landfill that is 12 miles away wasn't an option. People are so stupid.

prob trying to get avoid paying fees.

 

[StormHawk42]

 

[Derekd3408]

prob trying to get avoid paying fees.

I'm sure, but it goes off of weight. Guy probably avoided a $6 fee. IMO, it boils down to laziness. Find the nearest gravel road and dump. My parents live 3 miles outside of town.

 

[tumorboy]

I just don't understand this. I assume he gets gas at some point, just use the trash there while filling up. Good lord.

It was a nice car as well. Some folks believe the world revolves around them. Was making a turn into a subdivision. Heavy traffic street. So I had to wait for oncoming traffic to give me a gap to turn. Lady in newish Benz SUV decided she needed to use that turning intersection as well. She came from a Starbucks drive thru. Wasn’t going to wait for me . Turns into the median gap and blocks me and waits for the same traffic to clear so she can get on her way. Think I had only been sitting their for about 20 secs before she blocked me.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I agree!

Why not jail time?

I don't believe the Code allows for that. Unless they changed the law, all they can do is fine him

 

[MitchLL]

Can someone find a pic of said litterer?

I have one in my mind.

 

[McLovin32]

Good, **** this guy. Echo Valley is a great park. Pretty good trout fishing too if you can get there on a day when there's not many folks out and about.

 

[mthawkeyes]

Hang him. Litters are the worst.

Agree. I can understand how someone could lose control and commit murder in the heat of the moment, but may otherwise be a good person and citizen. But litterers are unlikely to have any redeeming value.

 

[tumorboy]

Hey now! You take that back...litters are the best!

 

[NewVicHawkeye]

Good. Glad they caught him. Litterers are the worst.
Recently, I know of someone who caught a guy dumping an engine block out of the back of a Uhaul in a little wooded area. Who thinks that is ok? The fines should be stronger for something like that.

Engine block is a lot of heavy metal. He should’ve hauled it to the scrapyard.

 

[markfromj]

Remember, you can do your part here (cig butt out the car window): https://keepiowabeautiful.org/programming/no-litter-hotline/

 

[UKGrad93]

He said, "Kid, we found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a—a half a ton of garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie. I put that envelope under that garbage."

View embedded media

He said, "Kid, we found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a—a half a ton of garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie. I put that envelope under that garbage."

View embedded media

Make him sit on the group W bench with the mother rappers and father rappers.

 

[funksouljon]

Make him sit on the group W bench with the mother rappers and father rappers.

 

[Hawkman98]

I don't believe the Code allows for that. Unless they changed the law, all they can do is fine him

I think the judge could sentence jail time since it's a simple misdemeanor which I think the code says is no more than 30 days. They won't do it, but they could.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I think the judge could sentence jail time since it's a simple misdemeanor which I think the code says is no more than 30 days. They won't do it, but they could.

Nope, it is a scheduled fine

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Trying to pull out my old appendix....but I'm pretty sure I'm right

 

[Hawkman98]

Nope, it is a scheduled fine

Ya but if arrested in lieu of citation the judge could sentence as a simple Misd with jail time correct?

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I got to be honest, I've never seen someone arrested for it; at least not without companion charges i.e. disorderly conduct, interference with official acts, etc.

 

[lucas80]

Trying to pull out my old appendix....but I'm pretty sure I'm right

Are you going to work for the state?
“I might be right, I might be wrong. Pretty sure I’m right… I’ll get back to you”.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Are you going to work for the state?
“I might be right, I might be wrong. Pretty sure I’m right… I’ll get back to you”.

Yes. And I verified, scheduled fine. No jail time is possible. @Hawkman98

 

[JustSayOV]

Make him sit on the group W bench with the mother rappers and father rappers.

I would like to think that the local law enforcement here took many glossy colored, 8 x 10 photographs of the scene of the crime as well.