Mayor Eric Enriquez City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
Mayor Eric Enriquez City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
The City of Las Cruces has begun enforcing a new Shopping Cart Ordinance, aimed at addressing the issue of abandoned or off-premises shopping carts. The ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council in August 2024, prohibits the removal, possession, abandonment, or alteration of shopping carts belonging to retail establishments. Violating this ordinance is considered a petty misdemeanor under the Las Cruces Municipal Code.
The enforcement of this ordinance by the Las Cruces Police Department was delayed until October 16 to allow time for public education and for individuals to return any carts they might have had. Prior to enforcement, police and codes enforcement officers collected 133 shopping carts during events on October 10 and October 15.
Despite these efforts, it is believed that more shopping carts remain abandoned or are being used improperly off-premises. Residents who notice such carts are encouraged to report them by calling the non-emergency number at (575) 526-0795 or contacting Codes Enforcement at (575) 528-4100. Reports can also be made through the Ask Las Cruces app, available on most devices via the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Once collected, Codes personnel will identify the businesses that own these carts and arrange for their retrieval.
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