Rio Rancho Municipal Code Section 91.07 makes it unlawful to dump solid waste or debris on any property, arroyo, drainage ditch, or public water, and Chapter 50 bars disposing of waste except as authorized. A rebuttable presumption identifies dumpers by items found in the litter.
Illegal dumping is prohibited under both Chapter 91 and Chapter 50 of the Rio Rancho Municipal Code. Section 91.07(F) makes it unlawful to dispose of solid waste in any manner other than as specified in Chapter 50. Specifically, Section 91.07(F)(1) makes it unlawful for any person to place or dump solid waste or debris in any arroyo, stream bed, drainage ditch, public fountain, or any public body of water within the city, and Section 91.07(F)(2) makes it unlawful to place or dump solid waste or debris on any property within the city, whether owned by the person or not. Section 91.07(F)(4) establishes a rebuttable presumption of violation: whenever litter is discovered to contain articles such as letters, bills, or publications displaying a person's name in a way indicating the article belonged to that person, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person violated the dumping prohibition. Vacant lots subject to repeated dumping must be secured and posted with "no dumping" signs under Section 91.07(F)(3). Section 91.07(G) requires that any vehicle loaded with solid waste be covered or securely loaded to prevent littering during transport. Under Chapter 50, Section 50.05(B) makes it unlawful to deposit solid waste in or upon streets, alleys, sidewalks, gutters, or vacant land except in specified receptacles, and Section 50.06 prohibits anyone other than the authorized contractor from collecting or disposing of waste, except that producers may haul their own waste to an authorized landfill in a sanitary manner. Litter and dumping violations under Chapter 91 carry the general penalty of Section 10.99 (up to $500 fine and/or up to 90 days), while Chapter 50 violations carry a fine of $25 to $500 per Section 50.99, each day a separate offense.
Dumping solid waste or debris on any property (yours or another's), in arroyos, drainage ditches, or public water; depositing waste on streets, alleys, or vacant land outside authorized receptacles; or transporting an uncovered load that litters are all violations. Identifiable items in dumped litter create a rebuttable presumption against the owner.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Rio Rancho's illegal dumping rules stack up against other locations.
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