COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police across the state plan to pay extra attention to litterbugs this over the next couple days during a campaign dubbed Zero Tolerance for Litter Weekend.

Law enforcement officers from local police to state troopers to the Natural Resources Department are expected to participate in the crackdown, which began Thursday and runs through Saturday.

The campaign is in its seventh year and has been a success, said Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville.

There has been a drop in litter in recent years and that's measured by how many bags are picked up by inmates along South Carolina's highways, Thomas said. He attributes the decrease to increased awareness through television and radio ads.

Most of the litter in South Carolina comes from uncovered loads in open-bed trucks, Thomas said.

Thomas is chairman of Palmetto Pride, which is a sponsor of the weekend along with the South Carolina Litter Control Association.