http://www.boston.com/dailynews/122/nation/Illegal_dumps_romantic_for_som:.shtml

Illegal dumps romantic for some in Kentucky

By Roger Alford, Associated Press, 5/2/2001 00:57

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) Surveillance cameras placed around illegal dumps in eastern Kentucky are capturing footage of more than litter bugs.

Lovebirds are turning up on the videotapes, as well.

''It's happening too often,'' said Karen Engle, coordinator of PRIDE, a regional organization that provides money for county governments to purchase video cameras for illegal dumps. ''One man returned to one of the dumps with four different women.''

In a crackdown on illegal dumping, local and state officials have been placing hidden cameras around many of the roadside dumps that blight the state's Appalachian region.

Usually, the dumps are on secluded portions of little-used rural roads with a shoulder broad enough to pull off the side, said Willard Burton, solid waste coordinator in Johnson County.

For some, Engle said, that's also the description of a lover's lane.

''I've learned that dumps can be romantic places,'' Engle said.

Mark York, spokesman for the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, said state investigators are discreet with the film.

''We do not use these romantic activities for any public presentation or distribution internally,'' he said. ''We just review the tape and go on to the next incident of someone throwing trash or garbage out.''

Those who are caught littering and convicted in Johnson County are fined, required to clean up four tons of garbage and pay for two years of curbside garbage pickup.

Burton said signs he posted at illegal dumps warn people that video cameras are used.

''One of the most common things we get is bathroom breaks,'' he said. ''People pulling off on the side of the road and using the restroom.''

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001

Answers

''One of the most common things we get is bathroom breaks,'' he said. ''People pulling off on the side of the road and using the restroom.''

Let's hope they don't 'leak' any video of that!

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001

What if someone from the vehicle is taking a leak while someone else is dumping and they are both within the same picture frame? I think the Winkie becomes part of the evidence in that case.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001

when I lived in NC, we had to take our trash to a spot about two miles away where they had dumpsters set up.

Maybe they could save some money on the cameras and accompanying tools and just rent dumpsters to put in these places. since people are used to using them, may as well use the spots.

Of course the property owners may not like that idea, but it's better than having to clean it up all the time.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001