There are a number of problems with this sign, but we're just going to focus on the part that says that anyone caught throwing trash in or digging inside"will be persecuted."I see this one often. Persecution and prosecution are very different things.
To persecute: 1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.
The Bible offers examples of proper usage of this word. For example, Matthew 5:44 says, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
To prosecute: 1.. to institute legal proceedings against (a person).
Prosecute would have been the appropriate word for the sign, since the writer intended to say that violators would be subject to appropriate legal proceedings rather than subject to "harassing or oppressive treatment" due to their "religion, race, or beliefs."
Just another grammar lesson on commonly confused words.
