Illegal Dumping
The Code of Virginia, as well as Bedford, Franklin, and Pittsylvania County Ordinances, specifically address illegal dumping and littering. It is unlawful to dispose of trash, garbage, trees, stumps, and branches in Smith Mountain Lake. Non-compliance may result in a Class 1 Misdemeanor, including a fine and/or imprisonment as provided in the Code of Virginia.
To report violations of these Ordinances, notify Virginia Department Wildlife Resources, 434-525-7522.
Code of Virginia
Section 62.1-194. Casting garbage, etc. into waters
Except as otherwise permitted by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to cast, throw or dump any garbage, refuse, dead animals, trash, carton, can, bottle, container, box, lumber, timber or like material, or other solid waste, except fish or crab bait in any form, into any of the waters of this Commonwealth. When a violation of any provision of this section has been observed by any person, and the matter dumped or disposed of in the waters of this Commonwealth has been ejected from a boat, the owner or operator of such a boat, shall be presumed to be the person ejecting such matter; provided, however, that such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence. Every such act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or confinement in jail not to exceed thirty days, or both. Every law-enforcement officer of this Commonwealth and its subdivisions shall have authority to enforce the provisions of this section.
Section 62.1-194.1. Obstructing or contaminating State waters.
Except as otherwise permitted by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to dump, place or put, or cause to be dumped, placed or put into, upon the banks of or into the channels of any state waters any object or substance, noxious or otherwise, which may reasonably be expected to endanger, obstruct, impede, contaminate or substantially impair the lawful use or enjoyment of such waters and their environs by others. Any person who violates any provision of this law shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor. Each day that any of said materials or substances so dumped, placed or put, or caused to be dumped, placed or put into, upon the banks of or into the channels of, said streams shall constitute a separate offense and be punished as such.
In addition to the foregoing penalties for violation of this law, the judge of the circuit court of the locality wherein any such violation occurs, whether there be a criminal conviction therefor or not shall, upon a bill of equity, filed by the attorney of such locality or by any person whose property is damaged or whose property is threatened with damage from any such violation, award an injunction enjoining any violation of this law by any person found by the court in such suit to have violated this law or causing the same to be violated, when made a party defendant to such suit.
