In July 1997, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's Beautification Office began the Litter Hotline program. They established a toll-free number for Oklahomans to call and report highway littering incidents. Based on the information given by the callers, the car's owner is sent a notice explaining that someone was seen littering from their car and asking them to join our effort to keep our state roadsides attractive. The postcard is NOT a citation or a ticket but simply a reminder that highway littering is illegal and costs our state $3.5 million annually. ODOT does not keep a record of postcards sent, and the information submitted by hotline callers is not released to individuals, organizations, or agencies. The postcard is the only result of a litter hotline call.

The hotline has become very popular statewide, with the number of calls increasing during the spring and summer months. Callers must be able to provide:

• The license plate number.
• A description of the vehicle.
• The time and location of the incident, including the town.
• The type of litter (i.e. cigarette butt, paper, etc.).

Without these pieces of information ODOT cannot send the postcard to the litterer.