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Ohio Litterbug Sports Hot-Pink Sign

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[December 07, 2007]  BRIDGEPORT, Ohio (AP) -- A litterbug became a walking warning not to mess with Bridgeport -- or its mayor. Tommy LaShare and his girlfriend were caught emptying their ashtrays on the street in front of his house, police said.

That landed LaShare in the court of Mayor John Callarik, who is waging a battle against litter in this eastern Ohio village of 2,200 people.

The mayor offered jail time, community service, $1,000 in fines -- or two eight-hour stints walking the streets wearing a hot-pink sandwich board with the message "Cigarette Butts Are Litter." LaShare chose the sign.

"It won't make me stop smoking," LaShare said, laughing. "But I know one thing for sure, I'll never throw out cigarette butts again."

Callarik said plans to offer the punishment to others caught littering.

"We have people that clean the streets, and that isn't an easy job," the mayor said. "It's made worse when an hour later, there is more trash on the streets."

[Associated Press; By VERENA DOBNIK]

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