A few days away from his home county gave Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson a rude awakening. Now he is reaching out to law enforcement to help in a personal mission.

“I had been on vacation for a couple of weeks and the first thing I noticed when I came back was an exorbitant amount of trash on the median of (U.S.) 52,” Anderson said. “It frustrated me. That got me really upset and interested.”

So last week Anderson sent a letter to city and village police departments, wildlife officers at Wayne National Forest and the sheriff’s office that if they see anyone littering to cite them into court.

“All those agencies are able to stop a vehicle and write them a ticket,” the prosecutor said. “And I have instructed all my assistants that if they get a ticket written for littering to ask for the maximum fine and that community service be picking up litter.”

Section 3767.32 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits the depositing of litter on any public or private property. Violating that law is a third-degree misdemeanor that can send the guilty party to jail for up to 60 days and receive a fine of up to $500. Jail time can be waived for community service.

“As a lifelong resident of Lawrence County, I believe it is important that we make our county presentable not only for the citizens who live here, but for any businesses who may wish to locate here,” Anderson said. “I am hoping to make our county a cleaner and safer place to live and work.”