Bring down unwanted fliers | ’Burgh councilman suggests fining violators

The Tribune-Democrat

July 24, 2008 01:51 pm

— A Pittsburgh city councilman is taking aim at flier advertisements that wind up on the windshields of vehicles.
Although some might argue his efforts to legislate a ban violate freedom of speech, we think it would do a lot to keep our streets from being littered.
And that’s one of the prime reasons Councilman Bruce Kraus is seeking the legislation. Too often, he says, unwanted images and messages simply end up blowing off windshields or are tossed onto streets by motorists.
He’s right. Who hasn’t at one time returned to their car in a crowded mall parking lot to find a flier on their windshield? At the least, its annoying. And if you look around, you’ll usually spot several of the papers littering the lot.
If approved by City Council, Kraus’ ban would carry a $15 fine plus court costs for a first violation and a $500 fine for subsequent violations.
That sounds fair.
Our only objection to Kraus’ idea is that it would explicitly allow the posting of lost pet fliers. That would seem to fly in the face of his main purpose for the flier ban and create an enforcement headache.
The battle targeting litterbugs is endless. While some folks do all they can to protect the environment and keep it clean for future generations, others treat it like their personal dumps.
What a shame.
Advertising is an acceptable, and usually wanted, way to educate and inform consumers. But haphazard distribution of windshield fliers does more harm than good.