The Warren County Board of Supervisors sent a clear message to a handful of residents and businesses — either clean up your act or park the car.

The board said 81 residential and business customers are delinquent to the tune of nearly $500,000 in garbage collection fees. It’s been an ongoing battle for years, but one the supervisors think they might have solved.

Any resident delinquent on garbage-collection fees will not be allowed to renew vehicle license tags, required annually by the state. When customers with outstanding balances attempt to renew tags in person or online, they will be referred to the Board of Supervisors instead of receiving their renewal. A payment made online will be returned with an accompanying note directing the would-be purchaser to the BOS.

It’s the latest answer to a years-long problem. Under Warren County’s waste ordinance, private firms serve all non-city addresses. Waste Management is contracted for about two-thirds of the county’s 10,000 or so active accounts, and the rest are divided among four family-run operations.

In years past, notices were sent and collection agencies were hired to curb the problem. Most recently, Natchez-based Receivable Solutions Specialists was hired to collect delinquent fees, but delivered on only a measly 4 percent of money owed. Rightfully, the board sent that company packing in hopes the vehicle tag plan will continue to show positive results.

Since letters went out to the 81 residents and businesses on Dec. 1, almost 21 percent of delinquent accounts were paid.

The sad fact remains, though, that county government has to go to such lengths for something that should have been taught to every grade school child — clean up after yourself. No one wants to ride the highways and byways of Warren County with a landscape of garbage sacks, old sofas and milk cartons.

We hope this plan will compel people to adhere to a concept becoming more and more obsolete — personal responsibility.

If not, we hope those residents and business owners have comfortable shoes.