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Council adds shopping carts to stolen-property ordinance in response to public-nuisance concerns
Summary
Council advanced an amendment to section 82-50 to allow receiving-stolen-property charges to apply when shopping carts are evidence of a crime; city attorney said abandoned carts create blight and safety concerns. Council advanced the ordinance on first reading.
The City Council voted on March 17 to advance a change to the municipal code that would explicitly include shopping carts in the city’s receiving-stolen-property provision.
City Attorney Mr. Edwards said abandoned and stolen shopping carts "constitute a public nuisance by creating blighted areas and at times present safety hazards," and that the amendment would permit criminal prosecution under receiving-stolen-property where a shopping cart is evidence of a crime.
Council members asked whether punishment would be set fines or left to the municipal judge; Mr. Edwards said criminal punishment is at judicial discretion and that judges tend to take a progressive approach. Council moved to approve council bill 2025-002 on first reading and to advance it; the motion was recorded in the meeting as passing with eight votes in favor and one absence.
The ordinance was advanced for further readings; staff did not propose a specific fine schedule during this session.
