PHOENIX– The Arizona Department of Transportation is providing drivers with a new option to report litterbugs.

The department announced last week that drivers can now dial 511, Arizona’s Traveler Information line, and select the second option. Drivers will be able to report the car’s license plate, type of litter, location and time of day.

The Litter Hotline is still in use as well, where drivers can dial 877-3LITTER ( 877-354-8837). Drivers can also report offenders online at Litter.AZ.gov.

Those that are turned in on the hotline will receive a warning letter in the mail to remind them that litter can carry a $500 fine if they’re caught by law enforcement. The letter will also include a small bag for the driver to use in the future.

The package is already part of ADOT’s Keep Arizona Grand program, where they issued 1,300 letters in 2018 alone.

Programs like Adopt a Highway and Don’t Trash Arizona are already in place to reduce the litter in the state. Adopt a Highway allows community members and businesses to keep highways litter- free through volunteer and sponsor programs. In collaboration with ADOT, the Maricopa Association of Governments’ program Don’t Trash Arizona is a program that addresses the economic, safety and health impacts of litter on state highways and freeways.

Litterbugs cost tax payers $4 million annually. According to Don’t Trash Arizona, more than 350 bags of litter are removed every weekday from Valley freeways which accounts for about 1.2 million pounds of trash annually.

Follow @KTAR923