Fresno County Municipal Code Ch. 10.30 Unauthorized Use of Shopping Carts

"Shopping cart," as used in this chapter, means a device with wheels carrying a basket or other device maintained by a dealer of merchandise upon his premises for the use of patrons or employees thereof to collect merchandise from various locations within the premises and to transport the same to the cashier or the patrons' means of removing the merchandise from the premises.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

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 securely affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to such business establishment.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

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, or upon any private property except that of the owner of such cart, basket or device.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

No person shall have in his possession any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device which has been removed from the owner's premises and which, at the time of such removal, had securely affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to a business establishment.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to possession by the owner, his agent or an employee of the business, or to possession by a customer of the business possessing the written consent of the owner, manager or authorized agent.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

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.

(Ord. 597, § 1, l977)

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.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

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 chapter.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)

Violation of any of the provisions or the failure to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter shall constitute an infraction.

(Ord. 597, § 1, 1977)