Code Enforcement Catches Illegal Dumping Suspect in The Act

APPLE VALLEY:(VVNG.com)- August 28, 2014: Illegal dumping in our beautiful desert is not only a nuisance, it is illegal, and can be punishable with fines, and vehicle impoundment.

Actual photo of the illegal dumping of trash bags that took place behind the Kmart in Apple Valley. (Photo courtesy of the town of Apple Valley)

Such was the case on Thursday when Apple Valley Code Enforcement Officers cited and towed the vehicle of Fontana resident Salome Vidala after watching him discard 20 to 25 large trash bags of insulation in an empty field behind the Kmart building on Bear Valley Road at Kiowa Road.

“Town Code allows officers to tow vehicles that have been used in an illegal dumping case if the refuse being discarded measures more than one cubic yard,” explained Senior Code Enforcement Officer Jonathan Wood.

Vidala told Code Enforcement officers that the insulation came out of an old oven he picked up in Las Vegas. He said that he had taken the insulation out of the oven in order to recycle the metal from the unit and was on his way to dispose of the insulation when he got called in to work.

He explained to officers that he decided to dump the insulation in the desert rather than take the time to dispose of it properly. Vidalia was given a $1,000 misdemeanor citation for illegal dumping, his vehicle was impounded for 30 days and he could face up to six months in jail if prosecuted to the fullest extent.

To report illegal dumping in Apple Valley or for more information on the Town of Apple Valley’s Code Enforcement Department visit www.AVCode.org or call (760) 240-7000 x7560. You can also report incidents on the Town’s “GoRequest” app on iPhone and Android phones.