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Litterbugs At San Francisco Dolores Park Could Face Higher Fines

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- San Francisco Dolores Park partiers who fail to pick up after themselves may soon be subject to higher possible fines.

Legislation introduced by Supervisor Jeff Sheehy earlier this month would increase the fines for littering and dumping in the park from $192 to $1,000 and allow park patrol officers to write citations.

The legislation also bans glass in parks citywide in most cases.

"Park users must be responsible for packing out items they bring into the park," Sheehy said in a statement. "Broken glass in our parks is a danger to families, children, and pets."

Dolores Park garbage
Part of the garbage left behind at Dolores Park in San Francisco. (CBS)

Littering has been an ongoing problem at the enormously popular Dolores Park, which tends to become packed on sunny afternoons.

The park was renovated at a cost of more than $20 million last year and city officials added facilities including new bathrooms with 23 more toilets and additional trash and recycling capacity.

In addition, the park also now hosts Eco Pop-Up, a staffed triple-sorting site allowing park users to sort their waste into recycling, compost and landfill. Last year park users composted 81 percent of their waste at the pop-up.

The park has also become the subject of "Love Dolores" campaign urging visitors to take care of the park and clean up after themselves.

"We are asking people in Dolores Park to behave just like they would in Yosemite. Respect the park, pick up after yourself, and don't bring glass," said Phil Ginsburg, general manager for Recreation and Parks. "Your choices are the difference between a clean park and a mess."

The legislation is expected to go before the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee in June.

© Copyright 2017 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

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