In The News Archives - Q-Star Technology

Palmview PD: Illegal dog dumping case remains under investigation

August 29, 2025/in In The News /by admin

August 27, 2025 in News – By: Gabriela Gonzalez
Original Article: Valley Central

A person caught by a Santa Cruz County surveillance camera illegally dumping trash. Credit: Santa Cruz County

PALMVIEW, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Palmview Police Department continues to investigate an illegal dumping case involving a dead dog.

Police say the incident, which occurred on July 7, was captured on surveillance cameras along Two Mile Line Road between Bentsen Palm Drive and Minnesota Road.

A photo shared by the Palmview Police Department shows two men parked on the side of the road and carrying what is believed to be a dead dog.

Police are looking for the two men in the photo for questioning to resolve the case.

“Their insights could prove invaluable to the investigation,” the Palmview Police Department released in a statement.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Palmview Crime Stoppers at (956) 584-8477.

County dramatically increases illegal dumping fines

July 1, 2025/in In The News /by admin

June 27, 2025 in News – Local By: William S. Woodhams

A person caught by a Santa Cruz County surveillance camera illegally dumping trash. Credit: Santa Cruz County

Small fines have failed to deter illegal dumping so Santa Cruz County has decided to get tough on the dumpers and those who are careless with their waste products.

A massive 2,400% increase in the illegal dumping fine is coming to unincorporated Santa Cruz County on July 11.

Those who have dumped before with impunity and first-time offenders will see their fine go from $100 to $2,500. Second-time offenders will see a bump from $200 to $5,000 and for those who can’t get enough of illegal dumping, a third offense will go from $500 to $10,000.

“By increasing penalties, we’re sending a strong message that Santa Cruz County is serious about stopping this,” said Carolyn Burke, assistant director of special services at the Community Development and Infrastructure Department.

The county has also installed cameras to record common dumping grounds. So far the cameras have caught one illegal dumper in the act and the Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

The cameras were funded by a statewide litter-pick up program, Pitch-in. The county encourages those who are tempted to dump illegally to seek out the proper waste, recycling and hazardous waste facilities, for their specific needs. A list of those facilities can be found a here.

Palmview to combat illegal dumping with new surveillance cameras

February 5, 2025/in In The News /by Admin

February 02, 2025 6:53 PM in News – Local By: Sarah Cervera

City leaders in Palmview want people to think twice before dumping trash illegally.

“You are committing a crime, and not only are you committing a crime, you are making the city look ugly,” city spokesperson Irma Garza said.

The city is ramping up their efforts to tackle illegal dumping by adding in four new cameras around town.

“We will set them up for a while in certain locations, and once we see they work, we will move them somewhere else,” Garza said.

According to Garza, the cameras have technology to read license plates to help track down violators.

The cameras were bought with a $30,000 grant awarded in 2024 by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, in partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Palmview city council members approved an agreement with AEP Texas on Jan. 28 to install the cameras on AEP polls.

Garza said there has been 600 cases of illegal dumping in the last three years.

“That is just too many, and hopefully that will bring those numbers down.”

The city plans to install the cameras later this month. Violators could face a fine, and possible jail time.

Camden Now Using Talking Cameras to Warn Away Illegal Dumpers

January 17, 2025/in In The News /by Admin

By NEILL BOROWSKI

Published January 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM

CAMDEN – If you’re illegally dumping on the streets of Camden, you may hear a voice from above warning you to stop.

The admonition won’t come from the heavens, but from high on a light pole as part of the city’s participation in a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection program that arms municipalities with cameras to record waste dumping.

Two cameras that can photograph license plates besides announcing the warnings will be installed at frequent dumping sites in Camden. The Camden County Police Department also looks for illegal dumping, as well as other crimes, with its hundreds of live cameras supervised in real time at police headquarters.

Six communities besides Camden are in the program: Paterson, Perth Amboy, Paulsboro, Salem City, Millville and Vineland, Vincent B. Caliguire, manager of the DEP’s Community Collaborative Initiative, told TAPinto Camden in an interview.

Some urban areas are “seeing a lot more illegal dumping,” Caliguire said.

“People will dump because the fines are low,” he said, adding that he is working with the cities to make it more costly to get caught.

Camden last year developed a program of stiff fines, including the possibility of forfeiting the vehicle. Community members can collect rewards for helping to convict the illegal dumpers.

City workers visit the DEP cameras weekly, downloading the video records to their laptops on site.

“I want to get it out to other cities,” Caliguire said of the program.

Keith Walker, Camden’s Public Works director, said the city is able to move the DEP cameras to where they are needed.

Two problem areas have been at Farragut Avenue and North 36th Street, near the Cramer Hill Nature Preserve, and at South 16th and Carman streets, Walker said.

Besides relying on surveillance, Walker said his crews also analyze the illegally dumped trash or construction waste to look for “any kind of identifying markers.” They include envelopes and prescription medicine bottles.

Besides construction crews, typically from outside the city, other dumpers include landlords who clean out rental units after tenants leave, Walker said.

Walker said illegal dumping can be reported by calling the CCPD 24 hours a day at (856) 757-7042 or the Public Works Department (856) 757-7132 or 757-7139.

In Camden, the amount of illegal dumping seems to have gone down, said Walker, a Camden native who recalls dumping everywhere was a huge problem when he was growing up.