Norwalk, CA

CHAPTER 8.40: SHOPPING CART IMPOUND
Section 8.40.015: Mandatory identification signs.
a) Retail establishments within the City of Norwalk with five or more shopping carts offered for customers’ use shall have identification signs affixed to all shopping carts being utilized by that retail establishment and its customers. Identification signs must comply with regulations set forth in Section 22435.1 of the California Business and Professions Code. (Ord. 08-1609 § 1)
Section 8.40.020: Impounding shopping carts affixed with signs.
a) The City may impound a shopping cart that has a sign affixed to it in compliance with Section 22435.1 of the California Business and Professions Code; provided, both of the following conditions have been satisfied:
1) The shopping cart is located outside the premises or parking area of a retail establishment. The parking area of a retail establishment located in a multistore complex or shopping center includes the entire parking area used by the complex or center.
2) The shopping cart is not retrieved within three business days from the date the owner of the shopping cart, or his or her agent, receives actual notice from the City of the shopping cart’s discovery and location.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.2)
Section 8.40.030: Impounding shopping carts not affixed with signs.
a) The City may impound shopping carts that do not have a sign affixed to them if the following conditions have been satisfied:
1) The shopping cart is located outside the premises or parking area of a retail establishment. The parking area of a retail establishment located in a multistore complex or shopping center includes the entire parking area used by the complex or center.
2) The shopping cart is located on public or private property; provided that, the owner or occupant of the property indicates that he or she does not desire to retain the shopping cart.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.3)
Section 8.40.060: Notice of impound.
a) The City shall notify the owner of the shopping cart listed on the sign or, if there is no sign, the person or entity, if any, the City has reason to believe owns the shopping cart. If the owner of the cart does not respond within twenty-four (24) hours, the City will notify the cart retrieval service listed for this particular cart. Nothing in this chapter shall require the City to take affirmative steps to ascertain the owner of a shopping cart which is not affixed with a sign identifying the owner of the cart.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.6)
Section 8.40.070: Disposal of unclaimed shopping carts.
a) The City may sell or otherwise dispose of any shopping cart that is not reclaimed by the owner of the shopping cart within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice provided in Section 8.40.060. If the City provided no notice pursuant to Section 8.40.060 because the owner could not be ascertained, the cart will be sold or destroyed within twenty-four (24) hours after impoundment.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.7)
Section 8.40.080: Impound fee.
a) Owners who reclaim impounded carts may be required to pay a fee to be set by resolution of the City Council. The fee shall be equal to the actual costs to the City of operating the shopping cart impound program.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.8)
Section 8.40.090: Fine.
a) The owner of a shopping cart shall pay the City a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each occurrence in excess of three during any six-month period for failure to retrieve shopping carts in accordance with this chapter. An occurrence includes all shopping carts impounded in accordance with this chapter in a one-day period.
(Ord. 1473 § 1 (part), 1997: prior code § 5-33.9)