A garbage man in Georgia was just
sentenced to 30 days in jail for picking up trash too early.
Many cities and counties have an ordinance regarding
trash pickup times, but the rules are seldom ever enforced. When a city does
decide to enforce it, the official usually fines the garbage companies. In the
case of Kevin McGill in Sandy Springs, Ga., the District Attorney (DA) went
after the trash collector. The DA claimed that fining the company has not been
working so he felt that jail time would. Apparently, the judge overseeing the
case approved.
I personally cannot
believe that they would actually jail a man for this. So many criminals are let
go on much greater charges. The jails and prisons complain constantly about
being over filled and over taxed. Yet, a man that picks up garbage an hour or two
early goes to jail. This is completely preposterous to me.
The community that
Mr. McGill was picking up the trash in was a neighborhood of very well-to-do persons.
I have a feeling that this is why the issue was even acknowledged. I am very
sure, that a trash man picking up trash before 7AM in a middle class or poor
neighborhood would not even get noticed.
I do not think this
kind justice is in any way a benefit to the community. This is defiantly not
Utilitarianism. This is a simple case of the rich getting special treatment,
AGAIN.
Referemces:
Rosenstand, N., (2003) chapter
5 (pp. 231-218)
The Tribune Media Wire (Mar2015) Retrieved from:
http://pix11.com/2015/03/10/garbage-man-jailed-for-picking-up-trash-too-early/
The city of Euclid (Ordinance
#186-1969 – Passed 9/2/69). Retrieved from:
http://www.cityofeuclid.com/community/service/RefuseCollection
Shackelford, T., ( Jan 2015) Public Works / Sanitation Coordinator http://www.valdostacity.com/Index.aspx?page=185
