Moncton By-Law Will Address Abandoned Shopping Carts Downtown
MONCTON – A by-law for abandoned shopping carts has been proposed to Moncton city council as a way to manage resources.
Spokesperson Bruce Tait says the by-law would address the number of carts in the downtown area and the use of those carts.
He says currently, the city collects abandoned carts and returns them to the stores, at no cost to the store owner.
Tait says the by-law would require shop owners to identify their carts implement a system to manage them.
It would be enforced on businesses in the downtown core initially, and then adjusted as necessary.
“The intent of the by-law is working with shop keepers and store owners in the area. They have been consulted by our policing group,” he says.
City solicitor Nick Robichaud says the by-law does provide the ability to enforce fines to either the store owner of the individual who take carts outside store premises.
The by-law would initially be aimed towards businesses in the downtown core and then adjust as necessary.
Shop owners could risk having to pay a $50 fee to get a cart back from the city if they fail to retrieve it within 24 hours.
Tait says other jurisdictions, including Halifax and Ottawa, already have similar by-laws in place.
Christina Mulherin is a reporter with 91.9 The Bend, a Huddle content partner.