Decorating is legal, but littering is an offense
Herman
We don’t encourage it. We don’t think it’s safe for people to pull off on the side of the road, but we know they’re going to do it.”
Hear that folks? Our quirky local custom has reached the level of one of our state’s great traditions.
Beyer said as far as she could tell there’s nothing illegal about decorating the trees, though “obviously littering is not legal,” which gets us back to the fine line between decorating and littering and when decorating can become littering.
Again, from Beyer: “We don’t encourage people to do this, but we know they are going to, and we just want them to be safe.” Take care when decorating or when pulling off the road to wander among the trees. (I rec- ommend the west side of Loop 360 north of RM 2222 and south of U.S. 183. You can’t miss it.)
That, it seems, is the deal as authorities see it.
Now, here’s the deal as the columnist sees it: Ho, ho, hold it a minute before you head out to Loop 360 to decorate a tree.
Please don’t plan to decorate a Loop 360 tree unless you also plan to go back out there and undecorate it early next year. And when you are undecorating, why not fill up a trash bag or two with other leftover decorations?
Let’s remember the inspiring words of Statesman reader Cathia Gantz, who, after I wrote last year about how much I enjoy the decorations, told me my column on the topic was “just about as sickening as the views of the mess along Loop 360.”
“When I drive Loop 360, I see litter that is now not just on the ground but all over the trees,” she told me. “It’s tacky, detracts immeasurably from the beauty of the roadway and creates a danger.”
Tacky is in the eye of the beholder, and we now have official confirmation that TxDOT believes decorated trees are “beautiful.” But we all agree on what’s litter. So here’s the rule on placing decorations on Loop 360 roadside trees: Don’t hang it up unless you plan to clean it up. things on Townsend and Haltom’s wish list. A new or gently used car or van that is mobility adaptable will help them get to doctors’ offices. They need home health care and assistive devices for Townsend as well as rent assistance, utility assistance and laundry service. Grocery store and gas gift cards also would be appreciated.
For more information on Townsend and Haltom or go give something on their wish list, contact the Care Communities, 4595883, thecarecommunities.org.