CHAPTER 543: SHOPPING CARTS
Section 543.01: Definitions
a) For the purpose of this chapter:
1) Shopping cart” means that type of basket, of wire or other construction, on wheels, propelled by human power, commonly but not exclusively used for transporting articles of merchandise within or from a place of business, and popularly known as a shopping cart.
2) Place of business” means a grocery store, supermarket, drugstore, dry goods store, department store, discount store, variety store or other retail establishment which supplies shopping carts for the use of its customers to transport articles of merchandise within or from such establishment.
3) Customer” means any person who enters a place of business for the purpose of purchasing, or inspecting with a view toward purchasing, articles of merchandise.
4) Parking lot” means any parcel of land used for parking vehicles or otherwise, adjoining or used in connection with a place of business and owned or leased by the person, firm or corporation which is the owner, lessee or operator of such place of business or which is provided for the use of the customers of such place of business under any form of lease or other contractual arrangement.
5) Business premises” means a place of business and any parking lot related thereto.
Section 543.02: Leaving Unattended in Parking Lots
a) No person, firm or corporation, being the owner, lessee or operator or in charge of a place of business, shall leave, or permit to be left, its shopping carts unattended within. the boundaries of any parking lot. This section shall not be deemed to be violated if such person, firm or corporation, at intervals of not more than one hour each, during the hours such place of business is open to the public for business and within one hour after the closing of such place of business each day, removes its unattended shopping carts from such parking lot.
b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Section 543.03: Storage After Business Hours
a) Not less than one hour following the close of business each day, any person, firm or corporation which is the owner, lessee or operator of a place of business shall remove its unattended shopping carts from any parking lot, and such shopping carts shall, until such place of business is again open to the public for business, be placed within a locked enclosure or otherwise secured in place so as to prevent their unauthorized removal from such place of business.
b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Section 543.04: Cart Removal Prohibited
a) No person, firm or corporation being the owner, lessee or operator or in charge of a place of business shall remove or permit the removal by a customer or other person of a shopping cart from any business premises and no customer or other person shall remove a shopping cart from any business premises.
b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Section 543.05: Impounding and Disposition
a) Any shopping cart found abandoned on any street, alley, sidewalk, tree lawn or other public place or in any parking lot after the close of business hours within the City may be impounded by the Police. Any shopping cart which has been impounded may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of ten dollars ($10. 00) per shopping cart, which shall be paid into the General Fund. Thirty days after the mailing of notice by certified mail to the owner, and as to any shopping cart that is unidentifiable as to ownership, thirty days after it has been impounded, any unclaimed shopping cart may be disposed- of by the City in the manner provided in Section 139.06 of the Administrative Code.
