I know many of you have driven down the road and seen shopping carts in the ditch or several of them parked on the side of the road. A shopping cart costs a store about $100 each.

I talked with one of the store managers, and he told me not only does he have to replace shopping carts that have been damaged from being taken off the property, but he has to pay someone twice a week to go and hunt carts and bring them back to the store.

Before you take a shopping cart from a store read this:

RS 14:68.1 Unauthorized removal of shopping cart, basket dairy cases.

It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to remove a shopping cart, basket, or dairy case belonging to another from the parking area or grounds of any store without authorization there for.

Whoever commits the crime of unauthorized removal of a shopping cart, basket, or dairy case from the parking area or grounds of a store shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

Not only does this act cost the stores money because of damage to carts, but it litters our community as well. Let’s keep St. John beautiful. If you have any questions about litter, call me at 985 652 7058.

Wayne Norwood is a lieutenant with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Department and owner and operator of the Louisiana Treasures Museum.