Launch trash laws enforced

The boat launches in Lafourche Parish are often used as trash dumping sites and the sheriff’s office is working on catching those who violate the parish ordinance against such dumping.

The Lafourche Parish Government is making sure all launches have “No Dumping” signs to remind the public about littering and dumping laws and that the sites are being monitored. Last year, the council passed an ordinance to post signs at all public boat launches, including notice of the $500 fine for violations.

“Through the years, littering and illegal dumping of trash has become an increasingly bigger problem at the many public boat launches dotting the Lafourche Parish landscape,” Parish President Charlotte Randolph and Sheriff Craig Webre said in a joint press release. The sheriff’s office, Webre said, will “tenaciously pursue anyone committing a crime at a boat launch,” and littering and dumping are no exception.

“We want to remind those boating and fishing on our lakes and bayous not to leave their trash at the launch,” Randolph said. “The public is allowed to use these launches free of charge, and it’s a shame that some people have such little respect as to leave their trash behind.”

The trash is coming from boaters who use the launches, but also from camp owners who bring in garbage from their camps and from people who just use the launches as dumping grounds.

The parish president and sheriff want those who use the boat launches to properly dispose of their trash by using the trash receptacles provided.