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I got the opportunity to swat a litterbug this week. We were on I-40 when I noticed a bag in the back of a truck that didn’t look secure. I watched it for quite a while and had just about decided that it was not going to be a problem when all of a sudden it broke loose and blew out. It was a plastic grocery bag that was either hung on something or the contents emptied when the bag blew out. This doesn't sound like a big deal but piece-by-piece, it all adds up. I've had 2 people to tell me that a plastic bag got sucked up into the motor of their vehicle which caused major damage and them some costly repairs.  Therefore, I try not to run over plastic bags.

It does not take but one to make a big mess. I had a fellow tell me he was behind a truck loaded with trash that did not look secure. He was thinking all the time he was behind this vehicle that something was going to blow out. When the truck speeded up and passed the vehicle in front, trash started blowing everywhere. I asked excitedly, “Did you get the license tag number?” And he said, “No, I couldn’t catch up with him.”

Would you like to swat a litterbug? If you witness litter blowing from a vehicle or someone pitch it out the window, get the license tag number. You will also need to note the date, time, county, city and highway and be ready to describe the violation. To find the on line Swat-A-Litterbug form for reporting litterbugs, just type swat a litterbug in the search field of your computer and you will find the NCDOT Roadside Environmental Unit web site. Pull up the form,  fill it out and send.  The owner of the vehicle will get a notice in the mail. (that’s swat not smack)