To clear Las Cruces streets of abandoned shopping carts, the city's police department kicked off its Shopping Cart Collection Initiative, netting 60 carts on its first day. According to the City of Las Cruces, these carts were gathered from two different locations within the city, with most originating from seven identifiable retail outlets. There were, however, three carts whose owners could not be established.
The initiative, which took place on Thursday, October 10, allows individuals to return shopping carts without penalty. This no-consequences amnesty period is seen as a prelude to the October 16 enforcement date of the new Shopping Cart Ordinance. The ordinance, set in motion by the City Council this past August, will soon be in full effect. A major part of the enforcement involves Las Cruces police actively working to return the carts to the rightful business owners.
The collection took place at two locations, the Community of Hope located at 999 W. Amador Ave., and a parking lot on the 2200 block of East Lohman Avenue. The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) has scheduled another, and final opportunity for shopping cart return on Tuesday, October 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During this time, officers and Community Outreach personnel will be standing by to assist in the effort.
Moreover, the initiative is as much about informing the public as it is about retrieval. The LCPD stresses that the delay in ordinance enforcement to October 16 is meant to educate the community on the new rules and to encourage the return of carts that individuals may have in their possession. For residents of Las Cruces, it represents a chance to tidy up the community before potential penalties are enacted under the city's new regulations.
