EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Las Cruces Codes Enforcement is asking for your help locating shopping carts that may have been abandoned or are still being used off-premises in light of the City’s new ordinance now being enforced, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) announced in a news release.
The new Shopping Cart Ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council in August, makes it unlawful to remove from the premises, possess, abandon or alter a shopping cart that belongs to a retail establishment, according to LCPD.
LCPD said violation of the ordinance is a “petty misdemeanor under the Las Cruces Municipal Code.”
LCPD chose to delay enforcement of the ordinance until Oct. 16 to allow for education on the new regulation and the return of carts that may be in the possession of individuals within the community.
Before LCPD began enforcing the new ordinance, police and codes enforcement collected 133 shopping carts during two events held on Oct. 10 and Oct. 15, according to LCPD.
LCPD said more shopping carts are believed to be abandoned or are still being used off-premises.
Anyone who knows of abandoned retail establishment carts, or the off-premises use of them, is encouraged to call the non-emergency phone number at (575) 526-0795 or Codes Enforcement at (575) 528-4100.
LCPD said a report can also be made using the Ask Las Cruces app. The Ask Las Cruces app is available for most devices on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
“After collecting abandoned or off-premises shopping carts, Codes personnel will determine what businesses own the carts and contact them so the carts can be retrieved,” read the news release.
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