Property owners are responsible for keeping the area in front of their property out to 18 inched into the street clean according to DC code. I'll have to look up the exact code. The is no reason not to fine owners. A couple of stiff fines may motivate some to clean up their act.

Treebox - Ed has a good point. Maybe you should start writing some more of those letters, it worked on 9th St!

I'm all for picking up trash... but I fail to see how the Government can try to impose a fine on a building owner for something someone else did on _City Property_ ordinance or not, that is not fair. Go after the offenders, not the building owners.

Davester, any property owner anywhere is responsible for the cleanliness of their property and "city property" in front of their building. Many times trash blows in from somewhere else. Perhaps a dog has tipped over the trash can. Yes, littering is against the law and should be punished. Who do you think is responsible for keeping a vacant lot clean? Owners need to take responsibility for their property. By the way, in DC "city property" includes everything from the street up to your building.

Davester, I definitely support Ed on this. Owners need to take responsibility for their property. This is a law that helps build a cleaner community. It would be nice if the govt did fine some of these repeat offenders - after that they might actually start keeping their property clean. But, I guess the other issue is, if people like me keep cleaning up after these delinquent property owners then they haven't truly been punished for their dirty properties.

Who is responsible for finding these properties? Anyone know?