A little trash could cost a lot of money

CINCINNATI - Starting Saturday, trash you didn't want could cost you something you do want, your hard-earned money.

With a push from Councilman Jeff Berding, Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved higher fines for littering.

Now, throwing your cigarette butt down on the ground could cost you $500.

If you're caught dumping garbage it could cost you up to $1,000.

"I think people want to live in a clean city and it's frustrating to see people throw cigarette butts or throw fast food garbage out of their cars. And people need to understand that if you're going to do that, if you're going to dirty up our city, you're going to pay the maximum fine that Ohio law allows," Berding said.

The new fines are a significant jump from the average $50 fine and court costs that those caught littering faced until now.

In the past two years, Cincinnati Police have only issued a few hundred littering citations. Even if the same rings true over the next two years, those caught will probably never forget it.