Off The Wall Ideas To Stop Illegal Dumping In Franklin Mountains

Some folks in El Paso are trashing Franklin Mountains State Park despite the penalties for illegal dumping. We need to toughen up the laws.

Franklin Mountains State Park is a beautiful area for hiking, nature watching or just chilling. It's also the largest state park lying completely within an urban area in the country but has some areas that should be avoided.

Some people also seem to see it as a big, beautiful trash can and I think the penalties for dumping there should be made a lot tougher.

Illegal dumping in the Franklin Mountains not only looks terrible, it's harmful to the plants and animals that call the mountain home.

Illegal Dumping Penalty

These jerks that are tossing their s**t all over the mountain do it mainly because, (on top of being lazy, disgusting cheapskates that won't drive a little farther to the dump), they know the odds of getting caught are slim.

The park only has a handful of employees and they can't be everywhere, 24/7. Other visitors sometimes see them but few are actually in a position to do anything other than report it. Taking immediate action could be dangerous but we need more eyes out there.

Even if caught, the penalties aren't super bad. A fine of $500 - $2,000 depending on what was dumped and, (maybe), jailtime. Most park employees aren't law enforcement though so, they can't cite or arrest people.

Raising The Stakes

I say we expand on that, not only making the fines tougher but also making dumpers more responsible for stopping others. First, start the fines at $2,000 and raise them from there based on what or how much was dumped. (Anywhere in the county, not just Franklin Mountains State Park.)

Second, jailtime becomes mandatory with the sentences based, again, on what/how much was dumped.

Additional Penalties

The vehicles/trailers used while dumping are forfeited to the state and the dumpers get a job. Mandatory surveillance.

Convicted dumpers are assigned certain areas to watch during certain hours. From a secured vantage point, if they see illegal dumping, they report it immediately.

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If any trash shows up during the shift that they didn't report, they become responsible for disposing of it. They can do it themselves or pay someone else to do it. Cameras would be provided so they can film what they see as the law swoops in. The new dumpers get the same penalty and so on and so on.

Granted, some people are too stupid to do the right, (or smart), thing but I think the threat of seized vehicles and babysitting assignments that make people responsible for the actions of others would work. We'd have extra eyes where they're needed and those eyes would be laser focused.

The Penalties Are Illegal

Problem is, those penalties themselves would be unconstitutional, (if not straight up illegal), so, I don't see this happening. You have to admit though, it would probably work. If you have any other ideas or solutions, let's see them in the comments.

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