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Preserving the Quality of Life in Our Neighborhoods A Continuing Series on Ordinances by Mike Esposito Many people who regularly attend monthly meetings of neighborhood associations agree that enforcement of the "little laws" (noise violations, loitering, the curfew, littering, etc.) written into The Code of Ordinances of the City of Troy would make everyone feel better about where they live. It is difficult for most people to imagine that it is the city's responsibility to follow behind its residents and clean up their mess or that of their dog. However since some of our neighbors and people walking or driving through the neighborhoods won't take responsibility for themselves, the rest of us will have to do it for them! The following are extracts from sections of the city code relating to control of dogs (Chapter 6) and littering (Chapter 14). All dogs must be on a leash when not confined to property. If you let your dog run loose through the neighborhood and the dog is picked up by the Animal Control Officer you may be liable for a fine of up to $50.00 for each violation (6-19) Troy's "Pooper Scooper Law" states that if your dog is caught relieving itself and you do not clean up behind the dog, you may be eligible for a fine of up to $50.00 for each violation (6-33) Most dog owners are responsible people. They care enough about their pet to insure their safety and do not allow them to run freely through the neighborhood and risk being hit by a car, attacking people or being attacked by another dog. They train their dog to relieve itself at an appropriate place on their property and they clean up after their dog. However there have been steadily increasing complaints throughout the city neighborhoods where dogs, sometimes in packs, have been roaming freely, and daily incidents where dog owners walking their dogs are not responsible or considerate enough to clean up after their pets. This is not only unsightly but is a health hazard. Unfortunately attempts by residents to speak with certain dog owners regarding these violations are met with less then civil comments. Therefore it is best to report violations of these sections of the city ordinances to Matt Elliot, City of Troy Animal Control Officer, at 270-4640. The Office for Animal Control is located at the Public Safety Building, 2175 Sixth Avenue, Troy, NY 12180. The police and the department of public works and their duly authorized representatives are charged with enforcing violations regarding littering (14-55) No person shall throw or deposit in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or public place, the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or any litter from a public sidewalk or driveway (14-57) A driver or a passenger in a vehicle shall not throw or deposit litter on a street, sidewalk or public place (14-59) A person shall not throw litter into a pond, brook or natural waterway or river or upon such lands in such a manner that the litter may fall into the water (14-62 and 14-63) No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant property, whether owned by such person or not (14-66) The owner or person in control of any private property shall maintain the property free of litter (14-67) and persons owning or occupying property shall keep sidewalks and gutters free of litter (14-68) Upon notification by police or the commissioner of public works or duly authorized representatives, a violator has twenty four hours from the time of notice to dispose of the litter (14-69); the civil penalty of a fine for the first violation is $25; $50 for the second, $75 for the third, and $100 for the fourth (14-73) Bottles, cups, wrappers, cigarette butts, and other forms of litter accumulate on the sidewalks, in the gutters, around and on top of sewers, in the alleys, in parks and playgrounds and in and along the banks of our city streams. While there is a regularly scheduled cleanup of city streets there is not enough equipment and DPW staff to keep all streets clean all the time. A concerted effort to improve the appearance of our historic city would take no money, and little effort and time. Homeowners, tenants, business people, seniors, youngsters, and people of all ages must continue their efforts in a block by block effort to rid Troy of litter. The results would be noticeable in a very short time. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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