(Amended by Ord. No. 129,180, Eff. 1/30/65.)
(a) Removal. No person shall remove any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device from the premises or parking area of any business establishment if such shopping cart, basket or device has permanently affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to such business establishment and a notification to the effect that such cart, basket or device is not to be removed from the owner’s premises.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to removal by the owner or the owner’s agent or an employee of the business, nor to removal by a customer of the business possessing the written consent of its owner manager or authorized agent.
(b) Abandonment. No person shall abandon or leave any such shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device which has been removed from the owner’s premises upon any public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public place, nor upon any private property except that of the owner of such cart, basket or device.
(c) Possession. No person shall have in their possession any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device which has been removed from the owners premises and which has permanently affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to a business establishment and notification to the effect that such cart, basket or device is not to be removed from the owners premises.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to possession by the owner or the owner’s agent or an employee of the business nor to possession by a customer of the business possessing the written consent of its owner, manager or authorized agent.
(d) Use. No person shall use any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device for any purpose other than that originally intended by such business without the owner’s written consent.
(e) Alteration. No person shall alter, convert or tamper with any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device or remove any part thereof without the owner’s written consent.
(f) Notice. Each business establishment owning such shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device shall place at each of its exits a sign notifying its customers and the general public of the aforesaid prohibitions. Such notification shall be placed in such a position and be of sufficient size and legibility so as to insure that persons leaving such places of business shall be fully informed of the prohibitory provisions contained in this section.
(g) Fine. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code to the contrary the violation of any of the provisions or the failure to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this section shall be punishable only by a fine of not more than $50.00.