YAKIMA, Wash. – In a 6-1 vote from the Yakima City Council, an ordinance was passed on Tuesday banning the use of shopping carts in the City of Yakima on public rights-of-way and in parks.
Anyone found using carts outside of grocery areas will have their cart seized and impounded and will be hit with a $50 fine.
The business that owns the cart would then have 14 days to retrieve their impounded cart and will have to pay an impound fee, unless the cart had a locking mechanism installed previously.
To retrieve a cart, the owner must pay a fee of $115. Councilmember Rick Glenn did not vote for the ordinance for that reason and wanted to propose an amendment waiving the fee.
“I’m still amazed that we are charging businesses because somebody stole their shopping cart, I just think that’s something the city should eat,” said Glenn. “We should not be charging fees for that.”
Solid Waster & Recycling City Manager Trace Bradburn says 364 shopping carts have been impounded in Yakima in 2024 thus far.
With the ordinance passing, it goes into effect immediately.