July 8, 2025

Littering continues to be a headache for CNMI

Littering continues to be a problem in the CNMI despite the existence of a law that prohibits it. (Joel D. Pinaroc)

Littering continues to be a problem in the CNMI despite the existence of a law that prohibits it.

Littering continues to be a problem in the CNMI despite the existence of a law that prohibits it. (Joel D. Pinaroc)
Littering continues to be a problem in the CNMI despite the existence of a law that prohibits it.
(Joel D. Pinaroc)

The number of apprehensions is also insignificant, despite penalties including stiff fines and hours of community service.

According to Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), the average number of apprehensions and citations since 1997 is a mere six, despite numerous agencies all having an active participation in the enforcement of the law.

Government data shows that, excluding occasional spikes in the issuance of citations, which occurred in 1998 (nine citations), 2004 (20 citations), 2006 (10 citations), and 2007 (23 citations), the average number of citations issued annually since 1997 has dropped significantly.

There are currently seven agencies—Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Saipan Mayor’s Office, and the departments of Public Safety, Commerce, Public Health, Public Works, and Lands and Natural Resources—involved in enforcing the anti-littering law and some 75 apprehending officers trained over the years.

The Commonwealth Litter Control Act of 1989 may have to be amended to make it more effective, the lawmaker said.

“Currently, the minimum fine for violations of the Litter Control Act is $200, plus the possibility of community service not to exceed eight hours for each offense, and the court has no authority to suspend the fines,” Demapan said.

“The unintended consequence of these penalty provisions is that Litter Control Officers are often reluctant to issue citations, preferring instead to educate violators and issue warnings, and prosecuting attorneys are often reluctant to pursue community service orders in addition to the considerable fine that the defendant would have to pay,” the lawmaker said.

Demapan’s proposed House Bill 19-20 seeks to change some key elements in the Litter Control Act.

“The proposed amendments seeks to encourage enforcement of the Litter Control Act by setting a fine range of a minimum of $25 to not more than $5,000 for littering, providing reasonable flexibility to impose community service in addition to, or in lieu of, monetary fines,” he said.

0 thoughts on “Littering continues to be a headache for CNMI

  1. You need to post litter control officers to enforce the law. No one cares about the law because no one is physically at the beach or is actually giving out citations.

  2. First you have to talk the the “new” elected AG and find out where he is coming from and if he will prosecute litering.

    Second do not change the amount of fine, leave it as is. Other places have such fines and many even much more for first offense.
    You have to make the “enforcers’ accountable. Are these people on payroll? If so then pay them as to the number of tickets they issue. Also give them a number (quota) that they must turn in each month. (as they do with seat belt violations. for DPS.
    Example;
    The seat belt citations used to be connected to highway funding for the local areas. This along with other citation in places such as Hawaii.
    I don’t know if any other citations are involved with the Fed Highway funds to the NMI. but the seatbelt was involved with the NMI and Guam.

    Make the littering citations connected to these guys pay or as an “incentive”
    You elected keep wasteing time to change or “customize” a law to suit your family instead of changing your family to be held to the laws.
    Pathetic.

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