Sec. 24-28. – Unattended and abandoned shopping carts.
(a) Litter. A shopping cart left unattended and abandoned on public property for more than 24 hours shall, for the purpose of this section, be deemed litter.
(b) Removal and redemption. The director of public services may cause any shopping cart left unattended and abandoned on public property and deemed litter to be removed to a designated location. Owners may redeem said shopping carts upon proof of ownership and payment of all city costs which shall not exceed $25.00 for each shopping cart removed and stored by the city.
(c) Notice. The director of public services shall give notice to the owner of a shopping cart, if known, that the city intends to remove the unattended and abandoned shopping cart if it is not removed from public property within 24 hours after notice is provided. Once the director of public services removes a shopping cart, the director must give notice, either in an electronic message or telephone call, to the named owner, if known, that the city has removed an unattended and abandoned shopping cart to a designated location along with the procedure and time schedule for reclamation of a shopping cart prior to disposal.
(d) Identification. All businesses located within the city that offer shopping carts to its customers shall place a distinguishing mark on each shopping cart to identify the shopping cart as belonging to that particular business.
(e) Contact information. All businesses located within the city that offer shopping carts to its customers shall provide the director of public services the name of a contact person or department, including a phone number and electronic mail address, responsible for receiving notices of unattended and abandon shopping carts.
(f) Disposal. Any shopping cart not redeemed within ten days after notice is given to the owner, if known, shall be disposed of by the director of public services as scrap metal.
(g) Liability. The City of Salem shall not be liable for any damage to unattended and abandoned shopping carts deemed litter pursuant to this section.
(Ord. of 2-13-2014)
