Vacated grocery carts get HPD’s attention

The Houma Police Department is cracking down on abandoned shopping carts. HPD Chief Todd Duplantis said he has received increased complaints of shopping carts impeding the flow of traffic on East and Payne streets in East Houma.

“The department has contacted store managers and requested them to collect all their carts,” Duplantis said. “Abandoned shopping carts within any subdivision are considered to be a nuisance and litter.”

During August, the Terrebonne Parish Council attempted to expand laws pertaining to shopping cart theft. An initial ordinance authored by Councilman John Navy passed a council vote, but was vetoed by Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet because of its strictness on merchants but not people removing carts from stores.

A second draft of the proposed ordinance failed to gain council support.

Navy said he supports police efforts to enforce the theft aspect of state law. However, he added that shopping cart regulations should also address blight and public safety, as they are often left abandoned along streets or dumped in yards and canals.

“My concern is that after those baskets are removed from [merchant’s] they are unsafe in the community,” Navy said. “No one is going to retrieve them unless we constantly call on vendors to go get their baskets.”

Navy told of an elderly woman that drove into shopping carts that had been intentionally lined across East Street by another individual during dark. The units could not been seen until the driver was too close to stop.

“What’s going to happen is somebody going to get killed or something,” Navy said. “I understand the effort of police, but they need to make sure those baskets are retrieved. It is not just blight, it is a safety risk.”

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Kayla Whaling previously told the Tri-Parish Times her company supports local assistance in controlling shopping cart removal and abandonment.

“We offer carts for the convenience of our customers,” Whaling said. “While we don’t encourage [customers] to leave with them, the reality is that it does sometimes happen. We have a diligent team of associates that retrieves carts on an as-needed basis.”

Whaling said if residents see abandoned Wal-Mart shopping carts, they should call the nearest store so crews can retrieve the carts.

Duplantis said the HPD will enforce state law as it pertains to removal of retail property from its owner. State law identifies unauthorized removal of shopping carts, dairy cases or baskets from a merchant as a misdemeanor.

“I think this is a positive step in the right direction,” Navy said. “We just need some extra measures for when they get past HPD. Once [the shopping carts] are left in the community how do you make sure they get out of the community?”

“Houma Police are asking citizens to not remove any shopping carts,” Duplantis said. “Whoever commits the crime of unauthorized removal of a shopping cart, basket, or dairy case from the parking area or grounds of a store will be issued a summons and fined not more than $100, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.”