Chapter 240: SHOPPING CARTS
ARTICLE I User’s Responsibilities
§ 240-1. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SHOPPING CART — Those pushcarts of the type or types which are commonly provided by grocery stores, markets and other types of stores for the use of the public in transporting commodities in stores, markets and other types of stores and incidentally from the store to a place outside the store.
§ 240-2. Users to return carts to store premises.
Any person who makes any use of any shopping cart belonging to or furnished by the owner of the store, market or shopping center, for assembling or moving of groceries, foodstuffs and allied products there purchased, shall after such use promptly return the shopping carts to the property from whence taken.
§ 240-3. Violations and penalties.
Any other use made of said shopping carts, including the abandonment of the same upon the streets, highways, alleys and other public ways of the Township, shall be deemed a public nuisance; and any person found guilty of committing such a nuisance shall, upon conviction thereof in summary proceedings, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more that $600 or to confinement for not more than 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
ARTICLE II Abandoned Carts
§ 240-4. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED CART — Unattended shopping carts that are removed from the store premises.
OWNER — The store, merchant or market or store manager of the store which provides shopping carts for its customers.
SHOPPING CART — Those pushcarts of the type or types which are commonly provided by grocery stores, markets and other types of stores for the use of the public in transporting commodities in stores, markets and other types of stores and incidentally from the store to a place outside the store.
STORE PREMISES — Includes the building, sidewalks and parking lot for the stores or markets which offer shopping carts for its customers.
§ 240-5. Owner’s obligations for use of shopping carts.
Every owner who provides shopping carts to its customers shall clearly indicate on a conspicuous place of the shopping cart the name of the owner’s store or business. The owner shall be responsible for the shopping carts that it provides to its customers and shall take appropriate measures to make sure that the shopping carts are returned to the store premises.
§ 240-6. Owners cited.
If a shopping cart is found abandoned, the Marple Police Department shall issue a citation to the owner in an amount not less than $100 and not more than $600. In addition, the Township may retrieve the shopping cart and charge the owner not less than $100 per cart for the Township’s costs to remove and return the cart to the owner’s store premises.
