Updated on July 29: The original version of this article had a quote which said the cost of a campground was $250 a night. After rigorous fact checking this quote has been removed as being misleading. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors passed an emergency ordinance to try and deal with the illegal camping problem along the highway between the Carmel River and the San Luis Obispo County line.The ordinance prompts the fines for illegal campers to increase to $1,000. With this increase in penalties, officials hope to deter unlawful campers.Illegal camping, litter, and a glut of tourists in the Carmel and Big Sur area have been an ongoing problem. County leaders say it’s especially urgent to take action due to increased fire dangers.“With the weather conditions now. The hot and dry weather. There is increased risk, and again we are just looking out for safety for the public,” says Chad Alinio, senior civil engineer for Monterey County.“At any given point at any given night, there are at least 200 illegal roadside campers up and down that 72 miles of coastline,” says Butch Kronlund, executive director for the Community Association of Big Sur.Camping being illegal along this stretch of highway isn’t new. Alinio says it dates back to the 1990s. But, the vast land makes it difficult for police to hold violators accountable.“Sometimes they will have an RV set up with an awning, and they’ve got a big campfire going. And they are cooking their food on the side of the road without any attention to the safety of other cars that are driving by, but to the fire safety of the community,” said Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams.Residents fear fire dangers and health problems can damage the iconic landscape along the coast.“It’s also a health problem, there is no place for people to use the restroom out there, so of course, they are on the side of the road doing what they got to do. And that also has a big impact on this beautiful scenic highway," Kronlund said.Officials will be putting up new signs along the coastline to notify visitors of the increase in fines in the coming weeks.The goal of this ordinance isn’t to deter tourists but to promote safer choices for staying in Big Sur. Officials ask visitors to plan before visiting Big Sur and avoid illegal camping.“We do encourage people to come into the area and enjoy what we have to offer. But we want to make sure everything is done safely for our visitors as well as the residents that are out there. So there’s plenty of opportunities for safer, more proper camping situations,” Alinio said.“This is a national treasure. It’s a worldwide resource we are not treating well, and we can do a better job. And this ordinance is taking us one step forward in actually achieving that,” Kronlund said.