WESTPORT — Don’t be surprised to be asked for proof of residency if you visit the transfer station on the Sherwood Island Connector this week, as staff are making an extra effort to enforce the residency regulation.

Though it’s always been official policy that out-of-town residents or commercial businesses are not allowed to use the dump for free, historically monitoring use has not always been a priority given staff and cost constraints.

“There are only three people that work the transfer station,” said Peter Ratkiewich, director of public works, “and sometimes it gets so busy that it is impossible to check all the cars for Westport stickers.”

“When we have the chance we will randomly do spot checks for residency and we often find out-of-towners trying to use the station,” he said. “That is exactly what has been happening the past couple days.”

Transfer station staff members affixed a green “WP” sticker to vehicles of people that were able to show proof of residency. The sticker later serves as a quick proof of residency.

According to the town’s website, “New residents who may still have licenses or car registrations from out of town may show other forms of proof such as a mortgage statement, deed, utility bill, etc.”