Fall Adopt-a-Highway pickup is this weekend

This year’s final Adopt-A-Highway litter pickup begins Sept. 22 and runs through Sept. 30. Motorists should be on the lookout for volunteers wearing bright yellow-green safety vests in the highway right of way.

There are three scheduled pickups a year in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program: one each in the spring, summer and fall.

“Adopt-A-Highway volunteers deserve our thanks for helping keep Michigan roadsides clean and attractive,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “We all benefit from their community spirit and pride.”

Almost 3,200 volunteer groups are in the Adopt-A-Highway program, covering approximately 7,200 miles of state highway. In 2011, more than 75,000 bags of trash were collected, saving taxpayers $1.5 million in cleanup costs.

Adopt-A-Highway volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members must be at least 12 years old and obey all safety rules and guidelines.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups should check the MDOT Web page at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway for more information and the name of their county’s coordinator, who can specify available roadsides. Groups are asked to adopt a highway section for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing a group’s name are posted along the portion of adopted highway.

MDOT reminds motorists that littering is a violation of state law. Additionally, a person who tosses litter that hits or falls into the path of another vehicle on a highway is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine up to $500, or both.