§2503. Littering.

(a) General rule.--It is unlawful for any person to throw, discard, leave, emit, deposit or allow the depositing of any garbage, bottles, cans, rubbish, wire, glass, paper, cardboard or wooden boxes or cartons or any other type of debris, trash or other thing or substance in or along any waters or on any lands adjacent or contiguous to waters or in such manner that the thing or substance deposited flows into or is carried by wind into such waters or lands.

(b) Evidence.--In prosecutions for violations of this section the operator of a motor vehicle or watercraft shall be deemed to have allowed the depositing of any thing or substance thrown, discarded, emitted or deposited from such motor vehicle or watercraft.

(c) Penalty.--Any person who deposits or otherwise disposes of a thing or substance in violation of this section which causes or may cause damage to, or destruction of, fish commits a summary offense of the first degree. Any person who transports household refuse or garbage from another location and disposes of it by leaving it on lands or waters open to fishing or boating commits a summary offense of the second degree. Any person who otherwise violates this section commits a summary offense of the third degree. In addition to the penalties set forth in section 923 (relating to classification of offenses and penalties), an additional penalty of not less than $20 nor more than $50 for each item or piece of litter thrown, discarded, left, emitted or deposited in violation of this section may be imposed on any person who is convicted or acknowledges guilt of a violation of this section.

(Dec. 22, 1989, P.L.735, No.102, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Nov. 1, 2012, P.L.1716, No.211, eff. 60 days)

Notation

2012 Amendment.  Act 211 amended subsec. (c).