COURT HOUSE – Middle Township is a major shopping hub for the southern end of the county. It is also home to many medium to large scale retailers that provide shopping carts for the use of their customers. Therein lies the municipality’s problem. The carts too often make their way off the retail premises and into streets and neighborhoods.
The municipality has grappled with the issue for several years, asking and then requiring that business owners tighten up security over their carts and file plans with the municipality on how they intend to prevent carts from leaving the retail area.
Middle Township Committee adopted an ordinance amendment Aug. 1 that is meant to get the attention of retailers that have monetary investments in the carts. Now, after five days from a business being notified, carts that have been picked up by municipal workers at locations across the municipality can be disposed of by the municipality “as it sees fit.”
The ordinance also tightens up requirements for up-to-date cart containment plans from retailers. It further provides that the retailer supplies the name of an individual authorized to accept service of a summons from non-compliance.
This is the latest move in an ongoing effort to get businesses to police their own carts, so that they do not become an off-premises safety hazard and general eyesore.
