Ever notice all of the plastic shopping bags blowing around the farmers’ fields in Southampton and Isle of Wight counties?

What’s the story on that? Why are there so many? And who’s responsible for littering them?

Southampton County supervisors this week took steps in hopes of reducing the unsightly bags and other garbage dumped along the community’s byways and highways.

Supervisors during their Monday meeting gave preliminary approval for an ordinance that calls for litterbugs to spend up to 12 months in jail and pay fines ranging from $250 to $2,500. Supervisors during their 7 p.m. Monday, March 28, monthly meeting will host a public hearing at the County Office Center on the proposed ordinance. They could then vote to adopt it.

Littering is a hard thing to understand. If you have a candy wrapper or soda can you want rid of while driving, don’t toss it.

Nearly every time you shop, your purchases are placed in plastic bags. One can gather literally hundreds of these things. They can be recycled at some stores, and why not put a couple of these plastic bags in your vehicle for garbage?

We live in a beautiful country. Why make it ugly by littering. Have some pride. The city streets and country roads are not your garbage can.