Las Cruces police to collect shopping carts ahead of ordinance enforcement • Source New Mexico

Las Cruces is preparing this month for police enforcement of an ordinance that primarily bars people without shelter from using shopping carts to move or store their belongings. 

Officials set up two cart collection days where people can turn in shopping carts to local law enforcement.

The ordinance went into effect Aug. 16, but the Las Cruces Police Department announced a 60-day delay to allow people to exchange their carts for another means of moving their belongings and for businesses to establish plans for reducing the number of carts removed from their properties. 

Officers will begin issuing citations on Oct. 16.

The police department will be set up at Community of Hope and at a parking lot near East Lohman Avenue and South Walnut Street on Oct. 10 and Oct. 15. According to the city, no legal action will be taken against people at these planned take-back days.

Police are expected to contact businesses after the events to return the carts.

The new ordinance was one of two passed by the Las Cruces City Council over the summer directly impacting unhoused members of the community. The second ordinance prohibits solicitation on private property and some forms of panhandling on medians.

Since the ordinance passed, Mesilla Valley Community of Hope employees and volunteers have worked to trade folks’ shopping carts with suitcases or wagons. According to Nicole Martinez, executive director of Community of Hope, these alternatives have not been durable and break down often.

People found possessing a shopping cart outside of a business can be charged with a petty misdemeanor. If convicted, the person can face six months in jail. A judge may also choose to sentence the person to community service, substance abuse counseling or mental health treatment. Businesses that do not comply with the cart plan or that allow carts to be removed from their property can face a fine of up to $500.