Bottles of Urine Showing Up on Oregon Highway

A person commits the offense of Improperly Disposing of Human Waste "if the person is operating or riding in a motor vehicle and the person throws, puts or otherwise leaves a container of urine or other human waste on or beside a highway."

Photo: Oregon State Police

(ONTARIO, Ore.) - Oregon State Police say they are encountering an alarming noticeable increase in urine-filled plastic containers disposed along a short section of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon is causing concern for litter crews and warnings from police and the Oregon Trucking Association.

OSP Sergeant Jason Reese, the OSP Ontario Area Command office was contacted this week by an Oregon Department of Transportation litter crew advising they picked up an estimated 200 – 300 urine filled plastic bottles in a 25-mile stretch of Interstate 84.

ODOT litter crews also report similar findings but believe the recent collection along this stretch of Interstate 84 is much higher than other highways.

"The main portion, about 100 bottles, was found on the eastbound side in a three mile stretch called ‘Three Mile Hill' between milepost 356 and 359. This area is prone to this problem because commercial trucks are driving at a slow speed and drivers can urinate into bottles and toss them out the window," said Reese.

OSP and OTA agree that this is not a problem exclusively caused by truck drivers, but those drivers contacted as they travel through the area have told troopers that a small portion of drivers will do this. Reese said commercial truck drivers mentioned the price of fuel may be causing drivers to travel slower than normal to save fuel while at the same time passing rest areas or truck stops. These drivers were unanimous in saying disposing of human waste in this manner "is very disgusting and not professional."

This problem is specifically addressed in Oregon law and is a misdemeanor offense to which an offender may be arrested, lodged in jail, and be fined up to $250. A person commits the offense of Improperly Disposing of Human Waste "if the person is operating or riding in a motor vehicle and the person throws, puts or otherwise leaves a container of urine or other human waste on or beside a highway."

Oregon State Police, ODOT and Oregon Trucking Association join together asking all drivers to help keep Oregon beautiful and to stop littering along our highways. When traveling, plan ahead and keep track of available rest areas and businesses where one can use restrooms and dispose of garbage in appropriate containers.

Source: Oregon State Police