After a steady flow of complaints to the Bronx Borough President’s office, other elected officials, and community board offices, the city’s Sanitation Department (DSNYC)  kicked off its “Don’t Be a Pooper-trator” campaign to crack down on negligent dog owners.

While the “pooper scooper” law of 1978 created a fine, now $250, for failing to clean up after your pooch, the sidewalks and parks of the Bronx clearly show that few dog owners are fearful of it. At a press conference today at the Bedford Park Senior Center, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., joined by Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and Community Board managers Fernando Tirado (District 7) and Jeremy Warneck (District 9), laid out the new enforcement plan.

“If you are walking your dog and you are caught without cleaning up after it, the pooper scooper law will be enforced, and it will be the most expensive piece of crap you’ll ever pay for. We’re dead serious about this,” said Diaz.

Diaz reiterated that sanitation officers will be on the prowl in areas with high levels of sidewalk and park poop, and that there will be zero forgiveness for these tickets.

“I hope that through this effort pooper-trators realize not only the importance of keeping our borough clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy, but that they will pay handsomely when they do not,” said Diaz.

To advertise the crack down, the Sanitation Department will be placing the ‘Pooper-trator’ poster on the sides of all sanitation trucks, and will be running messages on WNYE 91.5 FM. Commisioner Doherty has also recorded a message to dog owners that will play on the city’s 311 hold line.

Several people at the press conference brought up installing plastic bag dispensers in all of the parks, an idea which Diaz said they will look into further. Several years ago a private company from Colorado approached the Parks Department with a free plastic bag/canister service, with advertisements printed on the bags. The Parks Department declined the offer.

“People don’t want to get inundated with advertising,” said Community Board 7 Manager Fernando Tirado of the failed effort.

In regards to how this shot at the campaign is different from past efforts, Tirado said enforcement will remain strong, and not just spike for a few days and then go back to the same routine, like it has in the past.