1997 Minnesota Statutes

     115A.99 Litter penalties and damages. 

    Subdivision 1.    Civil penalty.  (a) A person who 
 unlawfully places any portion of solid waste in or on public or 
 private lands, shorelands, roadways, or waters is subject to a 
 civil penalty of not less than twice nor more than five times 
 the costs incurred by a state agency or political subdivision to 
 remove, process, and dispose of the waste.  

    (b) A state agency or political subdivision that incurs 
 costs as described in this section may bring an action to 
 recover the civil penalty, related legal, administrative, and 
 court costs, and damages for injury to or pollution of the 
 lands, shorelands, roadways, or waters where the waste was 
 placed if owned or managed by the entity bringing the action. 

    Subd. 2.    Deposit of penalties and damages.  Civil 
 penalties and damages collected under subdivision 1 must be 
 collected and distributed as required in section 487.33. 

    Subd. 3.    Joinder; private action for damages.  A 
 private person may join an action by the state or a political 
 subdivision to recover a civil penalty under subdivision 1 to 
 allow the person to recover damages for waste unlawfully placed 
 on the person's property.  

    HIST: 1Sp1989 c 1 art 20 s 17; 1994 c 412 s 2